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ICC T20 World Cup: Bethel’s century struggle in vain, India in the final for the second consecutive time with a thrilling win over England.

By Samira Vishwas

Mumbai, 5 March. There was heavy rain of runs under the floodlights of Wankhede Stadium on Thursday and the spectators also recovered their full money. In this sequence, despite the huge target set by the defending champion India, Jacob Bethel gave a tough test to the Indian bowlers with a stormy century (105 runs, 48 ​​balls, seven sixes, eight fours). But ultimately their efforts fell short and Team India entered the final of the ICC T20 World Cup cricket tournament for the second consecutive time with a thrilling seven-run victory over England in a heart-pounding battle till the last ball.

Sanju Samson roared again, Team India reached 253 runs

Forced to bat first, the co-hosts again made a splash with the bat of last match’s hero Sanju Samson (89 runs, 42 balls, seven sixes, eight fours). With ‘Player of the Match’ Samson’s two quick partnerships with Ishan Kishan (39 runs, 18 balls, two sixes, four fours) and Shivam Dubey (43 runs, 25 balls, four sixes, one four), India scored a huge score of 253 runs for seven wickets. In response, despite the tireless efforts of Bethel and his teammates, England could reach 246 runs for seven wickets.

The English were restricted to 246 runs due to Bethel’s efforts.

After a poor start of 2-38 in the fifth over, 22-year-old young batsman Bethel took the lead for England and amidst fast-paced batting, he made useful partnerships with other batsmen to take the team closer to the target.

In this sequence, when the last over started, England were 30 runs away from the target. But he was run out on the first ball of Shivam Dubey. After this, Joffra Archer (19 not out, four balls, three sixes) hit sixes on the last three balls, but he could not give the team a chance and England remained eight runs away from the target.

Champion India will face New Zealand on March 8 for the third title.

India, who won the title for the second time by defeating South Africa by seven runs in a hard-fought match at the Kensington Oval two years ago and had also won the first edition in 2007, are in their second consecutive and fourth overall final. Now to defend the title, it will face New Zealand on March 8 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.

score card

New Zealand broke South Africa’s unbeaten streak with a nine-wicket victory in Kolkata on Wednesday. Overall, this is the second consecutive year when the national teams of India and New Zealand will meet in the final of the ICC tournament. On March 9 last year, India defeated the Kiwis in the Champions Trophy final in Dubai.

England’s start faltered in front of a difficult target

If we look at England’s batting in front of a difficult target, its start faltered when Hardik Pandya (2-38) and Jasprit Bumrah (1-33) returned Phil Salt (five runs) and captain Harry Brook (seven runs) within five overs. After getting the support of new batsman Bethel, Jos Buttler (25 runs, 17 balls, one six, four fours) tried to open his hands and in the next over he became the victim of Varun Chakraborty. Bethel increased the score along with Tom Banton (17 runs, five balls, two sixes, one four). But in the eighth over, Akshar Patel (1-35) bowled out Banton (4-95).

Bethel made half-century partnerships with Jacques and Karen

For now, Barbados-born Bethel took charge and hit hard on Varun (1-64) and Arshdeep Singh (1-51). Bethel and Will Jacques (35 runs, 20 balls, two sixes, four fours) made a partnership of 77 runs in 39 balls for the fifth wicket. After this, 50 runs were scored on 27 balls for the sixth wicket between Sam Curran (18 runs, 14 balls, two fours) and Bethel.

Bethel was run out while stealing the second run in the last over.

Bethel completed his century in 45 balls by sending Pandya’s first ball for a six in the 19th over. However, on the third ball, Pandya took the second victim in the form of Karen (6-222). At present, in an attempt to steal the second run on the very first ball of Shivam, who brought the last over, Bethal remained away from the crease and Samson scattered the wickets on Pandya’s throw from log on. Then even Archer’s three sixes on the remaining balls could not take England to the target.

Sanju along with Kishan scored 97 runs in 45 balls.

Earlier in the Indian innings, Abhishek Sharma (nine runs, two fours) again failed and fell victim to Will Jacques (2-40) in the second over. But Sanju showed the same ferocious form as in the last match of Super 8 against West Indies. He made a strong partnership of 97 runs in 45 balls with Ishan Kishan. Kishan was dismissed by Adil Rashid (2-42) in the 10th over while Sanju got the support of Shivam Dubey who was promoted. Between these two, 43 runs were scored for the third wicket in just 22 balls. However, Sanju became Jax’s second victim at a total of 160 in the 14th over, 11 runs before his century.

India’s biggest score in T20 World Cup knockout matches

After Samson’s return, India added 93 more runs in the remaining 41 balls. However, captain Suryakumar Yadav (11 runs, six balls, one six) did not work. But Hardik Pandya (27 runs, 12 balls, two sixes, three fours) and Tilak Verma (21 runs, seven balls, three sixes) showed their sharp hands and India was successful in scoring its highest score in the knockout matches of the T20 World Cup.

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