- India have been dominant as they beat England by 68 runs of their semi-final conflict
- The pitch made their 171 a good whole to defend as Rohit Sharma shone once more
- England needed to go arduous within the powerplay however misplaced early wickets of their chase
The narrative can be that every part on Thursday was geared in direction of India reaching the T20 World Cup closing — the floor, the venue, all gave the impression to be of their favour.
However for those who have a look at issues in larger element, they got here into this semi-final towards England having simply crushed 50-over world champions Australia on a bouncier, good pitch in St Lucia, and reverted to a decrease, slower pitch and received comfortably.
Truthful play to them for the way in which they performed and it feels proper that India and South Africa, the 2 unbeaten sides within the event, go face to face in Barbados on Saturday.
India’s rating was solely barely greater than the 168 they put up within the 2022 semi-final they misplaced to England on the Adelaide Oval, however the distinction in circumstances to right here in Guyana was chalk and cheese.
A mixture of seamers holding the ball low and spinners turning it with no bounce made their 171 for seven a reasonably first rate rating to defend, and Rohit Sharma confirmed his class by taking considered one of his favorite pictures — the pull — out of the equation to make one other half century.
India deserve their place within the World Cup closing after comfortably beating England of their semi-final conflict
Rohit Sharma (proper) shone as soon as once more and 171 proved a good whole to defend on the pitch
It feels proper that India would be the ones to tackle South Africa as the 2 unbeaten sides
Suryakumar Yadav addressed the shortage of bounce by opening areas of the bottom that different batters merely could not along with his scoops and wristy flicks, and so they have been effectively supported by Hardik Pandya’s muscly cameo.
So, in distinction to 2 years in the past when England turned world champions, on the midway mark it felt prefer it was going to be actually arduous work. It was a difficult pitch, albeit not an not possible one, however the ball was not getting up anyplace close to as excessive as you may count on and the mixture of low bounce and large flip was at all times going to be a risk.
It is extremely tough to line issues up as a batter in that scenario and that meant there was an onus on England to go arduous within the powerplay. So Jos Buttler’s dismissal, to the primary supply despatched down by Axar Patel within the fourth over, felt essential.
England’s assault had been barely predictable with their slower balls, however Jasprit Bumrah confirmed how one can use them with a full set of variations to dupe Phil Salt shortly afterwards. Though Harry Brook briefly confirmed his class, England have been fatally behind the speed and dropping wickets.
The one query that could possibly be requested of Jos Buttler could be his name to bowl first within the sport
The one challenge you possibly can stage at Buttler was his resolution to insert India after profitable the toss. Maybe with rain round he was serious about Duckworth Lewis, and it was a bit damp up entrance which could have given them a greater probability of their opening bowlers Reece Topley and Jofra Archer nicking folks off.
However it mustn’t distract from the very fact England misplaced to a workforce who’ve had all bases coated on this competitors.
