After posting a massive score of 253/7 in 20 overs, it was important India started well with the ball. While they went for runs initially, but the Men In Blue have managed to chip away at wickets to keep England under check. It is a big chase and so England have come all guns blazing to try and make a match out of this. India still ahead, but England fighting back now.
India strikes thrice as England charges to 68 in the powerplay.Â
Chasing 254 for a record run chase, Philip Salt and Jos Buttler came out to bat for England while Arshdeep Singh had ball in hand for India. Salt made a positive start as he glanced it away fine to the fine leg fence for a boundary. Buttler got into the act as he lifted it over covers for a boundary. Buttler managed to bring the bat down in time and squeezed it to the fine leg fence for a boundary.
Hardik Pandya came into the attack next from the other end. He removed Salt for 5 off 3 balls with one four to his name. Pandya from over the wicket bowled an away swinger on the fuller side on the fifth stump line and Salt looked to swing it across the line but ended up getting a top edge where Axar at cover point settled underneath it and took the catch. Captain Harry Brook came out to bat next and he got off the mark as well. Pandya bowled a good over.
Arshdeep continued as Buttler squeezed it down the ground for a boundary. Buttler then thumped it hard down the ground for a boundary past mid-off. Pandya continued as Brook got on top of the ball and pulled it over midwicket for a boundary. Buttler took on Pandya and went inside out over mid-off for the maximum to end the over.
Jasprit Bumrah came into the attack next and he removed Brook straightaway as the captain fell for 7 off 6 balls with one boundary to his name. Bumrah from over the wicket bowled a well disguised off-cutter around the off-stump on a good length. Brook backed away and looked to lift it over covers but got completely deceived by the change of pace and still went through with the shot and sliced it away to the inner circle as Axar ran back and took a good catch as well with a dive over his head. Jacob Bethell came out to bat next.
Bethell whipped it away over fine leg for the maximum. Varun Chakaravarthy came into the attack for the last over of powerplay. Bethell took him on and muscled the ball over long-on for the maximum. Bethell went again and lofted it over long-off for the maximum. Bethell went again as he reverse slog swept it away over extra cover for the maximum. Varun then hit back and got rid of Buttler for 25 off 17 balls with 4 fours and one six to his name.
Varun bowled a scrambled seam delivery on a length that pitched outside the off-stump and spun inwards. The ball evaded the bat and away it went to hit the stumps as the hoick went awry as the ball hit the stumps. Tom Banton came out to bat next and after the break he reverse swept it away over backward point for a boundary. England reached 68/3 in 6 overs with Bethell unbeaten on 26 off 9 balls and Banton unbeaten on 4 off 1 ball with powerplay being over.
Tom Banton falls, but Jacob Bethell keeps the fight going for England.Â
Hardik Pandya returned to the attack post the powerplay. Bethell took him on as he hammered Pandya over forward square leg for the maximum. Bethell reverse lapped it away over short third man for a boundary. Axar Patel came into the attack next. Banton took him on by smashing consecutive maximums one over midwicket as well. Axar then cleaned up Banton for 17 off 5 balls with one four and two sixes to his name to give India a much-needed wicket. Will Jacks came out to bat next and he got off the mark by thrashing it away through midwicket for a boundary.
Varun returned to the attack as Bethell stood deep and hammered it past midwicket for a boundary as the 100 came up for England in 8.1 overs. Bethell then backed away leg side to thump it over extra covers for a boundary. Jacks pulled it away to the square leg fence for a boundary. Axar came to bowl the 10th over of the innings. He bowled a much better over.
England reached 119/4 in 10 overs with Bethell unbeaten on 49 off 18 balls while Jacks was unbeaten on 11 off 11 balls. India were at the same score at the same stage and now England needs 135 off 60 balls with 6 wickets in hand.
What Lies Ahead.Â
The match is nicely poised now as England have made a roaring comeback in the match. So much so, that England and India are tallied at 119 after 10 overs with England losing 4 wickets while India have lost 2 wickets in the same time. The next phase will be crucial as the second semi-final is heating up with the winner set to face the Kiwis in final. No one is ahead right now honestly speaking.
Also Read:Â ICC T20 WC 2026: Sanju Samson Special Powers India Past 250.