Defending champions India withstood Jacob Bethell’s good hundred in an exciting match to beat England by seven runs on Thursday and attain the Twenty20 World Cup closing. Put in to bat, India racked up a commanding 253-7 as Sanju Samson struck a commanding 89, supported by fluent contributions from Shivam Dube and Ishan Kishan. England’s reply was carried single-handedly by Bethell, who plundered a 48-ball 105 to hold his staff within the hunt, however the two-time champions fell simply quick. The match was a correct emotional rollercoaster on the Wankhede Stadium; listed below are some standout moments.
It got here all the way down to the best margins in the long run. England – Jacob Bethell and Sam Curran – determined to not take dangers towards Jasprit Bumrah in his closing over, leaving themselves needing 39 runs off 12 balls. And Bethell, enjoying one of many nice T20 World Cup knocks, hit the primary ball of Hardik Pandya’s over for a six to convey up his century off simply 45 balls. At that stage, it wasn’t fairly clear whether or not he had executed sufficient for it to be a successful knock however a take a look at many a whole bunch of faces within the crowd mentioned a narrative: he had India apprehensive, he had England hoping. Ultimately, he fell quick – actually and figuratively – whereas diving to finish a second run. It Hardik’s throw from the deep that did the trick for India, and the Indian allrounder had only a few good minutes to tug issues firmly towards his facet. The nineteenth over from him and that run out proved simply sufficient for India to finish Bethell’s masterclass. It had already been evident that Bethell is a famous person for the long run, however this innings was a reminder he’s prepared right here and now.
– Vinayakk Mohanarangan
Wankhede silenced
The crescendo of noise that emanated when the ball left Abhishek Sharma’s bat was shortly silenced when it fell into Phil Salt’s arms at large long-on, a great distance contained in the rope. The left-hander, who was touted to be the star of the event, has had a torrid time. Will Jacks, England’s key participant within the competitors, gave one a bit extra air and Sharma, who had simply hit a full toss over mid-off, couldn’t get the specified connection. The celebration within the England ranks confirmed how a lot they valued his scalp, even when Sharma had been in need of runs. Off-spinners have had his variety of late, and the dismissal would do little to change the opinion that it’s his Achilles Heel. The staff administration has repeatedly given him the vote of confidence, predicting {that a} large knock was across the nook. However that has not materialised, and with Sharma’s less-than-exemplary efficiency within the discipline, the stress solely intensified.
– Tushar Bhaduri
You’ll be able to measure runs, partnerships, and strike charges, however the true stat right here is intent. Beloved the optimistic method with the bat and the cool heads within the discipline. That’s the mindset you need in knockout cricket.
Nice to see Sanju Samson carry his kind into this match and set the… pic.twitter.com/kYczSjuDhX
— Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) March 5, 2026
Battle towards Archer
A yr again, when Sanju Samson and Jofra Archer confronted off, that is the way it had panned out: 23 deliveries, 25 runs, three dismissals. The uncooked tempo and the bounce of Archer meant that Samson had repeatedly fallen to quick deliveries, which has been a problematic space. On Thursday, Archer wished to check him once more, and off the fourth supply of the primary over, landed a brief one. Nonetheless, as an alternative of cramping, it angled down the leg and Samson pulled him over fine-leg for six. In his second over, Archer examined him once more, this time once more Samson stood again within the crease and hammered it to the second tier of the Sachin Tendulkar stand. Samson was off, so was India. It was simply the beginning the hosts wanted in a match-up that was seen as central to the result of the sport.
– Venkata Krishna B
What a participant, what an innings! 👏
Virat Kohli 89*(47) vs WI, 2016
Sanju Samson’s 89(42) vs ENG, 2026Joint-highest rating by an Indian in ICC Males’s T20 World Cup knockouts! 🙌
ICC Males’s #T20WorldCup | Semi-final 2 | #INDvENG | LIVE NOW 👉 https://t.co/L2OuYBUDbL pic.twitter.com/2gNsU6Ry55
— Star Sports activities (@StarSportsIndia) March 5, 2026
Miscalculation?
On an evening the place England bowlers, together with their spinners, obtained a hammering, two deliveries confirmed what they may have maybe executed otherwise. Attacking the road of stumps is usually fraught with danger at a floor just like the Wankhede Stadium, and once they landed it large outdoors the arc of the batsmen, they stood a powerful probability. Adil Rashid, after being hit by Ishan Kishan, altered his line a bit, going outdoors off, which the left-hander skied to long-off. And Samson, who regarded unstoppable throughout his knock, fell the primary time he was made to achieve for the supply nicely outdoors off by Will Jacks. Angled from across the wicket, Samson tried to go over covers, however like Ishan, ended up hitting it off the toe finish of the bat because it settled underneath the fielder at sweeper cowl. The 2 Indian batters had been in sensational kind however had been undone by deliveries out of their attain… ought to England have executed extra of that?
– Venkata Krishna B
1, 2, 3… Dube not prepared…
Shivam Dube isn’t probably the most speedy on this Indian staff, however when he seems to be again at his dismissals in the course of the event, he’d be questioning… am I actually that gradual to be run out thrice? Twice earlier, he was concerned in mix-ups with Rinku Singh, confusion reigning supreme between the 2 left-handers towards Namibia and Pakistan. On Thursday in Mumbai, it was Hardik Pandya’s flip to promote Dube down the river. Hardik was compelled to defend a yorker from Sam Curran however casually took off after hitting the ball straight to midwicket. Shivam wasn’t watching the ball, he had eyes on his accomplice, as he ought to have. But it surely was a late name of no from Hardik, and Shivam’s turning radius isn’t the smallest. By the point he obtained round, Harry Brook nailed a direct hit. A disillusioned look-back from Dube, a hand up in apology from Hardik.
– Vinayakk Mohanarangan
Jacks of all trades
English skipper Harry Brook took a daring name when he introduced in Will Jacks within the twentieth over to bowl regardless of the carnage by the Indian batters all through the innings. Whereas Jacks conceded 16 runs with Hardik Pandya hitting two sixes, the final over was the one blot on in any other case a high-quality efficiency by the all-rounder as he conceded simply 26 runs in first three overs with wickets of Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson. Jacks has been go to man for Brook all through the event with all-rounder delivering every time wanted. Such has been his impression within the ongoing event that out of the eight video games England have performed, he has been named Participant of the match in 4 video games. The all-rounder has scored 191 runs batting in a finisher position, taken 9 wickets and 6 catches within the event to date. He has repeatedly bailed his staff out of bother, standing up in tough conditions.
– Pritish Raj
Second(s) of magic
‘Catches win you matches’ is among the oldest cricketing cliches. Whereas India haven’t precisely been setting the world alight with their catching within the event, Axar Patel’s stunner to dismiss England captain Harry Brook off Jasprit Bumrah is well a contender for the perfect catch of this World Cup. Bumrah began his spell with a signature slower one, rolling his fingers throughout the seam, and fully outfoxed Brook, who was early via his shot. The bowler had executed his half, producing one other magical piece of ability. Bumrah’s slower ball has already flummoxed among the greatest on the earth. However there was nonetheless lots to be executed for this to show right into a wicket. It was a skier, and Axar ran again from level, all of the whereas conserving his eyes on the ball. It was within the air for an eternity it appeared, and the second it regarded like falling out of his attain, Axar timed his dive completely to pluck the catch after overlaying a distance of 24 meters.
– Pritish Raj