Sunday Apr 05, 2026
Sunday Apr 05, 2026
Friday, 6 March 2026 00:10 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
MUMBAI: In what turned out to be a slugfest at the Wankhede Stadium here yesterday, defending champions India pulled off a thrilling seven-run win against England in the second semi-final to qualify to meet New Zealand in the final on Sunday at Ahmedabad.
It came down to the final over and co-host India managed to scrape through to set up the first ever India vs. New Zealand final at a T20 World Cup. India has made it to the final for the fourth time in T20 World Cups – the most by any team.
A total of 73 boundaries (39 fours and 34 sixes) were hit – the most in a T20 World Cup match, which was well clear of the next best 61 between England and South Africa at this venue in 2016.
After India had smashed 253-7 in the first innings, England made them sweat properly in the sweltering heat of Mumbai, with Jacob Bethell playing a knock to remember – 105 off 48 balls (8 fours, 7 sixes). With 69 needed off the last five overs, the game was right in the balance on a belter of a pitch that offered absolutely nothing to the bowlers.
At the death, India bowled their best bowlers first and that gave Shivam Dube enough to defend. Jasprit Bumrah was brilliant with his yorkers, as was Hardik Pandya. Arshdeep Singh mixed his lines too and a word for Axar Patel’s catching, which earned the wickets of Harry Brook and Will Jacks. England decided to play Bumrah off rather than take too many risks, which left them with too much to do in the final over when 30 was required.
Bethell’s run out off the first ball of the final over, going for an impossible second run to retain the strike, made it even difficult for England, although Jofra Archer 
plundered the last three balls from Dube for sixes to cut down the deficit to just 8. Bethell tried his darnedest to deny India, even after Jos Buttler, Phil Salt, and Harry Brook fell cheaply. Will Jacks helped Bethell put on 77 off 39 balls, then Sam Curran joined for a further stand of 50 off 27 balls, but it wasn’t to be.
India, invited to bat first, put on a superb batting display. Sanju Samson made the most of Brook dropping him at 15, and put on a display of explosive hitting on a flat Mumbai track to score his second successive fifty – 89 off 42 balls (8 fours, 7 sixes). There was support from Ishan Kishan (39), who helped him add 97 off 45 balls, and cameos from Dube (43 off 25 balls, 1 four, 4 sixes) and Pandya (27 off 12) that enabled India to what seemed like a well-above-par, if not par, total.
Adil Rashid was the pick of the England bowlers, while Jacks took two crucial wickets too, but the other bowlers were taken to the cleaners. It was simply not a bowler’s day. – [ST]
Scores:
India 253-7 (20) (Sanju Samson 89, Ishan Kishan 39, Shivam Dube 43, Hardik Pandya 27, Tilak Varma 21, Will Jacks 2/40, Adil Rashid 2/41)
England 246-7 (20) (Jos Buttler 25, Jacob Bethell 105, Will Jacks 35, Jofra Archer 19*, Hardik Pandya 2/38)
