India produced a spectacular batting display to post 253/7 in 20 overs against England in the second semi-final of the T20 World Cup at the Wankhede Stadium on Thursday. The massive total has set England a daunting target of 254 runs to reach the final.
England captain Harry Brook won the toss and elected to bowl first, but India’s batters quickly took control on a batting-friendly surface.
India suffered an early setback when Abhishek Sharma was dismissed for 9, but Sanju Samson and Ishan Kishan counterattacked immediately. The duo punished the English bowlers during the powerplay as India raced to 67/1 in the first six overs.
Samson dominated the innings with a breathtaking knock of 89 runs off just 42 balls, smashing 8 fours and 7 sixes. His aggressive stroke-play kept England’s bowlers under pressure throughout the middle overs and laid the foundation for a massive total.
Later, Shivam Dube added momentum with quick runs, while Tilak Varma accelerated the scoring with three sixes late in the innings.
The final flourish came from Hardik Pandya, who smashed 27 runs off just 12 balls, including two towering sixes in the last over before being run out. His late blitz pushed India past the 250-run mark.
At the end of 20 overs, India finished on 253/7, putting them in a commanding position in the high-stakes semi-final. England now need 254 runs to win and book their place in the final of the tournament.
With such a huge total on the board, India’s bowlers will look to defend the score and secure a spot in the T20 World Cup final.
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