Mumbai, March 5, 2026: A blistering knock by Sanju Samson followed by a disciplined bowling performance powered India national cricket team to a thrilling seven-run victory over the England cricket team in the second semi-final of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 at the Wankhede Stadium on Thursday.
With the win, India booked a place in the tournament final where they will face the New Zealand national cricket team at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Sunday.
Chasing a daunting 254-run target, England mounted a strong fight but ultimately fell short, finishing at 246/7 in their allotted 20 overs despite a brilliant century from Jacob Bethell.
England’s chase began poorly as they lost opener Phil Salt for five and captain Harry Brook for seven inside the first five overs, leaving them struggling at 38/2.
Bethell, batting at number four, attempted to revive the innings and shared a 26-run partnership with Jos Buttler, who contributed a quick 25 off 17 balls before being dismissed by Varun Chakravarthy on the final delivery of the powerplay.
England suffered another blow in the eighth over when Axar Patel removed Tom Banton for 17 after the batter had struck two consecutive sixes, leaving the side at 95/4.
Bethell then found solid support in all-rounder Will Jacks as the pair added 77 runs for the fifth wicket in just 39 deliveries. Jacks scored a brisk 35 off 20 balls, hitting four boundaries and two sixes, before being dismissed in the 14th over.
Bethell continued his aggressive approach and later added 50 runs with Sam Curran for the sixth wicket. Curran scored 18 off 14 balls before falling to Hardik Pandya in the penultimate over.
The match turned decisively when Bethell was run out on the first ball of the final over after scoring a valiant 105 off 48 deliveries, including eight fours and seven sixes.
Pandya led India’s bowling effort with figures of 2/38 in four overs, while Chakravarthy, Patel, Arshdeep Singh and Jasprit Bumrah picked up one wicket each.
Earlier, India posted a formidable 253/7 after being put in to bat. The innings got off to a shaky start when Abhishek Sharma was dismissed for nine by Jacks with the score at 20.
Samson then anchored the innings with a brilliant 89 off 42 balls, smashing seven sixes and eight fours. He shared a 97-run partnership with Ishan Kishan, who scored a quick 39 off 18 balls before being dismissed by Adil Rashid.
Samson also added 43 runs with Shivam Dube, who later scored 43 off 25 balls. India’s captain Suryakumar Yadav was stumped for 11, but late cameos from Pandya (27) and Tilak Varma (21) ensured a powerful finish.
For England, Jacks and Rashid claimed two wickets each, while Jofra Archer took one.
