Agencies
Georgetown (Guyana)
England’s defence of the T20 World Cup is over after they slumped to a 68-run thrashing by a superb India in the semi-final on Thursday, reports BBC.com
Set 172 on a difficult pitch to make Saturday’s final, England’s batters folded and were dismissed for 103 in 16.4 overs.
Captain Jos Buttler gave them a solid start with 23 but his wicket was the first of four for 20 runs.
Phil Salt fell for five, Jonny Bairstow a three-ball duck and Moeen Ali eight from 10 balls.
When the superb Kuldeep Yadav, who took 3-19, bowled Harry Brook for 25 England were 68-6 and the game done, although there was still time for two dismal run-outs.
Buttler’s side were also guilty of allowing India to get to a score above par, although that was largely down to the excellence of Rohit Sharma and Suryakumar Yadav.
They overcame a slow surface that also kept low in a fine partnership of 73 from 50 balls that took India to 171-7 - Rohit hitting 57 and Suryakumar 47.
India, who have not won a World Cup for 13 years, will play first-time finalists South Africa - a meeting of the tournament’s two unbeaten sides.
England’s defence of the title they won in Melbourne in 2022 began with a struggle, kicked into life in the middle, but ends with a miserable defeat.
They were outclassed by India, who adapted to the tough conditions better – managing their batting innings perfectly and then being utterly ruthless with the ball.
Much of the talk beforehand was about how India would have progressed if no result was possible, with no reserve day in place.
The match was delayed by 75 minutes because of rain and interrupted again during India’s innings by another shower but, on this basis, the only thing unfair would have been Rohit’s side failing to win given the gulf between the two teams.
England beat India by 10 wickets in Adelaide in the semi-finals in 2022. Buttler scored 80 not out that night but this time his dismissal, caught off the toe end to left-arm spinner Axar Patel’s first ball started the slide.
Salt was tied down in his eight balls before he was bowled trying to slog Jasprit Bumrah down the ground.
Bairstow was also bowled. He played a wild drive to Axar and was beaten on the inside edge. Moeen’s dismissal was comical as he drifted out of his crease, unaware of where the ball had gone after being hit on the pad, and was stumped.
Sam Curran went plumb in front to wrist-spinner Kuldeep, who also bowled Brook around his legs.
If Moeen’s dismissal looked poor, Liam Livingstone’s was worse. He was sent back by Jofra Archer running for a single and was left well short.
As much as England were bad, credit must go to India, who charge into the final with momentum.
Scores: India 171 for 7 (Rohit 57, Suryakumar 47, Jordan 3-37) beat England 103 (Brook 25, Kuldeep 3-19, Axar 3-23) by 68 runs.
