India in final after clinching high-scoring thriller

On a night of pulsating drama, studded with 499 runs in 40 overs, including 34 sixes, India sealed their progression to Sunday’s T20 World Cup final, thanks to Sanju Samson’s second defining knock in as many matches, and a display of targeted magnificence from the inevitable Jasprit Bumrah.

But to do so, they had to withstand an innings from the ages from the precocious Jacob Bethell, whose 105 from 48 balls kept England swinging for the fences in a heroically thwarted chase in Mumbai.

Set an unearthly 254 to win, after Samson had backed up his crucial 97 not out against West Indies with another mighty innings of 89 from 42, England lost three wickets in the powerplay, and eventually drifted out of contention as India’s seamers held their nerves in the death overs to leave an improbable requirement of 30 from the final over.

In the final analysis, however, it was the fine margin of fielding that made the key difference. Where Harry Brook dropped an utter clanger in the third over of the match, to reprieve Samson on 15 and leave his hapless bowler, Jofra Archer, winded and mojo-less, India’s defence turned on two stunning pieces of work from Axar Patel in the deep.

The first, at deep cover, showed Brook how it’s done, as England’s likeliest matchwinner was extracted for just 7 from 6; the second, at deep backward point, was an incredible running relay effort to intercept an uppercut from England’s player of the tournament, Will Jacks, whose 77-run stand for the fifth wicket with Bethell had arguably given England a strong chance as they approached the final six overs. (Credit: ESPNcricinfo)