A ruthless India put a stop to England’s title defense by giving them a 68-run loss in the second semi-final of the T20 World Cup on Thursday, putting them in the final against South Africa.
India gave a strong total of 171-7, with Rohit Sharma (57) and Suryakumar Yadav (47) scoring the most of the runs on a slow track.
The Indian team then bowled out England for 103 inside 17 overs, with their spin duo of Axar Patel and Kuldeep Yadav causing a crisis with the turning ball.
India will now compete with South Africa in the final on Saturday in Bridgetown after defeating England, with both teams remaining undefeated in the tournament so far.
The match was delayed due to rainfall and a wet outfield, and England captain Jos Buttler elected to field after winning the toss.
India got 46 runs from the six power-play overs but lost the wickets of Virat Kohli and Rishabh Pant while at it.
Rohit began with a few streaky shots but soon grew in confidence.
Suryakumar played his trademark scoop shot over a fine leg for a six off Chris Jordan before rain stopped play with India at 65-2 in eight overs.
Rohit reached his fifty off 36 balls with a six, bringing up India’s 100 in the 13th over after the March resumed over an hour later.
Adil Rashid bowled Rohit, and Jofra Archer denied Suryakumar a fifty, temporarily putting a stop to India’s momentum.
Jordan (3-37) dismissed Hardik Pandya and Shivam Dube with consecutive deliveries, but India still did well to post a competitive total.
England began briskly but were struggling at 49-5 after a top-order collapse triggered by Axar (3-23).
The left-arm spinner dismissed Buttler (23) with his first ball and removed Jonny Bairstow for a duck in his next over.
Phil Salt had his leg stump pegged back by Jasprit Bumrah.
Axar, who later became the Player-of-the-Match, returned to dismiss Moeen Ali, who was stumped before fellow spinner Kuldeep (3-19) tightened the noose on a slow pitch where the ball occasionally kept low.
The left-arm wrist spinner trapped both Sam Curran and Jordan and clean-bowled Harry Brook (25) to put India firmly in charge.
