MUMBAI: Jacob Bethell hammered a 19-ball fifty to keep England's hopes alive despite the loss of four wickets in pursuit of a massive 254 against India in their highly anticipated T20 World Cup semi final at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium on Thursday. At the end of 10 overs, England were 119/4.
Hardik Pandya drew first blood for India in the second over of the innings, having Phil Salt caught at cover by Axar Patel for five.
Jasprit Bumrah, who was introduced in the fifth over, then struck first ball to send back England skipper Harry Brook for seven, with Axar taking an even better catch this time, again at cover, leaving England at 38/2.
Skipper Suryakumar Yadav handed Varun Chakravarthy the ball for the last over of the powerplay, only to see the spinner's first three deliveries disappear for six as Jacob Bethell went on the rampage.
Bethell took a single to get off strike and Varun struck immediately to castle Jos Buttler for 25. But Tom Banton reverse swept the last ball for four as the over went for 23.
After Hardik Pandya's next over cost 15, Suryakumar brought on Axar Patel instead of Varun. Axar was greeted with two sixes by Banton to give the Indians a sense of deja vu. But with his next ball, he rattled the timber to send back Banton for 17.
Earlier, Sanju Samson smashed 89 off just 42 balls as India racked up a hefty 253/7.
Despite the early loss of Abhishek Sharma, India got off to a flyer after being put in to bat. Abhishek smacked Will Jacks for two fours in the second over, only to hit the off spinner down Phil Salt's throat at midwicket off the last ball of the over to depart for nine off seven balls.
Samson continued where he left off in the final Super Eights game against the West Indies, making England pay for dropping him on 15 when skipper Harry Brook shelled a straightforward chance at mid-on off Jofra Archer.
He raced to his fifty off just 26 balls by lofting left-arm spinner Liam Dawson over long-off for six.
At the other end, Ishan Kishan was equally belligerent, hammering 39 off 18 balls before Adil Rashid made a vital breakthrough, having him caught at long-off. Samson and Kishan's partnership was worth 97 in 45 balls. At the end of 10 overs, India were 119/2.
Shivam Dube was promoted to No. 4 ahead of skipper Suryakumar Yadav to negate England's spin threat. He duly hit Rashid out of the attack, smashing him for two sixes in an over.
Samson was finally caught at cover by Salt off Jacks for 89 after a 42-ball knock that featured eight fours and seven sixes.
That brought the skipper to the crease and he looked to get a move on, lifting Rashid over square leg for a six. But the leggie had the last laugh, having him stumped by Jos Buttler next ball for 11 off six balls.
Dube was looking good for a fifty but was run-out in a mix-up with Hardik Pandya after making 43 in 25 balls including four towering sixes.
Tilak Varma then produced an invaluable cameo of 21 off seven balls, blasting Archer for three sixes off four balls in the penultimate over before being castled by the paceman.
That over went for 20 and Hardik Pandya then inflicted more damage in the final over by hitting Jacks for two sixes to set England a target of 254.
Earlier, Suryakumar showed no concern after losing the toss, stating that he was looking to bat first anyway.
This is the third T20 World Cup in a row in which the two teams are facing each other in the semi final stage. In the previous two editions, the winner of this contest went on to lift the trophy.
India entered the match on a high after Samson’s heroic 97 guided them to victory over West Indies in their must win Super 8 clash.
On the other hand, Harry Brook’s England have won their last five matches, with all rounder Will Jacks in red hot form.
The winner of Thursday’s clash will face New Zealand in the T20 World Cup final on Sunday.
India named an unchanged playing XI for the third match in a row.
India XI: Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson (wk), Ishan Kishan, Suryakumar Yadav (c), Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Arshdeep Singh, Varun Chakaravarthy, Jasprit Bumrah.
England made one change to their side, with Jamie Overton replacing Rehan.
England XI: Philip Salt, Jos Buttler (wk), Harry Brook (c), Jacob Bethell, Tom Banton, Sam Curran, Will Jacks, Jamie Overton, Liam Dawson, Jofra Archer, Adil Rashid.