Axar Patel claimed figures of 3/23, as India booked their place in the final by thumping England by 68 runs in the second semi-final of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 at Providence Stadium in Guyana on Thursday.
After being asked to bat first, India lost Virat Kohli (9) as he was bowled by Reece Topley. Rishabh Pant also departed cheaply to Sam Curran for 4.
Skipper Rohit Sharma along with Suryakumar Yadav added 73 runs for the third wicket stand. Rohit reached yet another fifty before being cleaned up by a googly from Adil Rashid.
Yadav was deceived by Archer’s slower ball and ballooned a catch to Jordon at long off for 47.
However some handy contributions from Hardik Pandya (23), Ravindra Jadeja (17) and Axar Patel (10) took their side to a competitive score of 171/7 in their 20 overs.
Chasing 172, openers Jos Buttler and Phil Salt added 26 runs for the opening stand before Axar broke the stand by dismissing the former while attempting a premeditated reverse sweep for 23.
Jasprit Bumrah then got into the act by dismissing Salt (5) with an off cutter. Axar and Kuldeep Yadav then ran through the middle and lower order as English lost wickets at regular intervals.
Jofra Archer scored a 15 ball-21, before Bumrah wrapped up the innings by dismissing him leg before wicket as they were bowled out for 103 in 16.4 overs.
The Men in Blue will play the final against South Africa in Barbados on Saturday.
India 171 for 7 (Rohit 57, Suryakumar 47, Jordan 3-37) beat England 103 (Brook 25, Kuldeep 3-19, Axar 3-23) by 68 runs