And the wait continues...! Buttler and Hales produced an exceptional performance to down the mighty Indians at the World Cup. While it's the end of road for India, England's journey continues and lies at the destination is Pakistan, a motivated side that would fancy their chances for the second time. This would be all from our side, stay tuned for more sports related updates with ETV Bharat.
Here's the full match report:
India humiliated, England cruise into World Cup final
A thoroughly professional England annihilated an out-of- sync India by 10 wickets to sail into the World Cup final as Alex Hales and Jos Buttler's relentless hitting mortified Rohit Sharma's clueless attack, here on Thursday. England seemed to have saved their best for the grand stage as they reduced the semifinal to a lop-sided affair, courtesy a splendid bowling effort which they complemented with some breathtaking stroke-making.
It was Hardik Pandya (68 off 33 balls), whose fearless hitting took India to 168 for six but it was just about a par-score at the Adelaide Oval. England captain Buttler (80 not out) set the tone with three boundaries off Bhuvneshwar Kumar's opening over but it was Hales (86 not out off) who butchered the Indian attack into submission.
The target was achieved in just 16 overs as England batting line-up clicked for the first time in the tourney and what a day it chose to brings its A game to the fore. The England opening duo gave India's star-studded line-up a lesson in how to build a T20 innings: that there is only one way, the offensive way.
It was one match that was decided in Powerplay as India managed only 38 runs in six overs as the archaic style of safety-first approach hurt them terribly. In complete contrast, England's top order which looked shaky throughout the league stage, smashed 63 in their six overs. The match was won and lost then and there.
Hales hit as many as seven sixes in his 47-ball knock and his approach showed that there were no demons in the track. He deployed the old-fashioned 'Sanath Jayasuriya school' of hitting in the first six overs. When Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma were batting, they were looking to hit through the line unlike Hales and Buttler. Against lesser opposition like Bangladesh, they could make it up with a total of 168 but it was never enough for a side like England which has reinvented the grammar of T20 batting.
Bhuvneshwar and Arshdeep Singh didn't get enough swing up front and team management's fascination to play Axar Patel (0/30 in 4 overs) and Ravichandran Ashwin (0/27 in 2 overs) ahead of Yuzvendra Chahal backfired badly. The success England spinner Adil Rashid (1/20 in 4 overs) on the same track added insult to the injury. By the time, Buttler hit Mohammed Shami (0/39 in 3 overs) down the ground for one of his three sixes, the Adelaide Oval stands wore a desolate half-empty look.
And the over-throws and the dropped catch by Suryakumar Yadav typified a day when everything that could go wrong went wrong for India. This Indian team never had all its bases covered and paid the price. But even in this defeat, the T20 captain-in-waiting Pandya revelled in the role of a finisher with a sensational knock that gave India a chance to fight. Virat Kohli (50 off 40 balls) occasionally displayed his regal array of strokes but it was the flamboyant Baroda man whose unbelievable end-over pyrotechnics took India to a fighting total, which had looked distinctly impossible after the first 10 overs.
In the last four overs, India scored 58 runs, courtesy four fours and five astonishing sixes from Pandya with a drop-dead gorgeous flick behind the square off Chris Jordan (3/43) being the stand out one. KL Rahul's (5) abject failure against bigger teams looked even more pronounced as Chris Woakes exposed his shortcomings with extra bounce in the second over. But if India scored at least 20 runs less, blame it on skipper Rohit Sharma (27 off 28 balls) and the first 10 overs that yielded only 62 runs. In a semifinal, consuming 42 dot balls (effectively 7 maiden overs) doesn't paint a pretty picture.
Had it not been for the sixes that Hardik hit off Sam Curran (0/42) and Jordan, India would have ended with a below-par score as Kohli, despite his fourth half-century in the tournament, couldn't up the ante. There are times it seems that Kohli is on a mission to be better than the best. The six over extra cover off Woakes was simply unbelievable. The head position, the stillness and transfer of weight, everything in sync.
There was a short arm bowler's back-drive over Liam Livingstone's head even as Rohit struggled at the other end. The back-to-back boundaries off Curran through mid-wicket region and similar shot over extra cover for a one-bounce boundary of Jordan's deliveries were the only three convincing shots from the India skipper.
Not even the slog sweep for four off Rashid looked like he was in control and the final outcome wasn't certainly what people expected in a big-ticket game from Rohit. Pandya came to India's rescue and changed the complexion of the innings.
Scoreboard: T20WC; IND vs ENG
England Innings:
Jos Buttler not out 80
Alex Hales not out 86
Extras: (W-4) 4
Total: (For No Loss in 16 overs) 170
Bowling: Bhuvneshwar Kumar 2-0-25-0, Arshdeep Singh 2-0-15-0, Axar Patel 4-0-30-0, Mohammed Shami 3-0-39-0, Ravichandran Ashwin 2-0-27-0, Hardik Pandya 3-0-34-0.
16 Over:
England win by 10 wickets, defeat India to face Pakistan in the final.
15 Over:
Ball by ball: 1 0 1 0 0 0
Total runs scored: 2
14th Over:
A brilliant save by the skipper. Buttler struck hard for a boundary but Sharma saved it. The batter waited a little to strike another for a boundary. And the next one for a sensational six. There was a chanced catch as the ball went high in the air off Buttler. Suryakumar missed it and the ball went for a boundary instead.
Ball by ball: 0 0 4 0 6 4
Total runs scored: 14
13th Over:
Ball by ball: 2 1 3 4 6 1
Total runs scored: 17
12th Over:
Ball by ball: 1 1 2 1 6 4
Total runs scored: 15
11th Over:
Ball by ball: 6 2 0 1 1 0
Total runs scored: 10
10th Over:
A crestfallen Indian team desperately is looking for a miracle here. First ball of Arshdeep was drilled for four while the rest of the over was dealt with ease by the England batters.
Ball by ball: 4 1 0 0 1 1
Total runs scored: 7
9th Over:
A four from the second ball but India must look for an inspiration performance from someone. England have so far used the powerplay extremely well, a stage where India lacked in their innings. This may be haunting them now.
Ball by ball: 1 4 0 2 0 0
Total runs scored: 7
8th Over:
Hales scores his half century.
Ball by ball: 0 6 0 1 1 1
Total runs scored: 9
7th Over:
Ashwin kept the England batters quiet until the fourth ball when Hales sweeped it for six. A good over for India, overall.
Ball by ball: 1 0 Wd2 1 1 6 1
Total runs scored: 12
6th Over:
A massive six from Hales inflicted to Axar, and India. England ends powerplay on a powerful note.
Ball by ball: 0 6 1 0 0 4
Total runs scored: 11
5th Over:
India being put in a difficult position here, both Buttler and Hales scoring at a healthy strike rate. Hales struck six on the second ball of Shami, strengthening first wicket partnership of England. Fifty partnership comes up for England.
Ball by ball: 0 6 0 0 4 1
Total runs scored: 11
4th Over:
Ball by ball: 4 1 0 1 1 1
Total runs scored: 8
3rd Over:
Ball by ball: 0 1 1 2 6 2
Total runs scored: 12
2nd Over:
Ball by ball: 1 4 Wd 0 0 1 1
Total runs scored: 8
1st Over:
Ball by ball: Wd 4 0 4 0 0 4
Total runs scored: 13
Scoreboard of the T20 World Cup semifinal between India and England here
India Innings:
KL Rahul c Jos Buttler b Chris Woakes 5
Rohit Sharma c Sam Curran b Chris Jordan 27
Virat Kohli c Adil Rashid b Chris Jordan 50
Suryakumar Yadav c Salt b Adil Rashid 14
Hardik Pandya hit wkt b Chris Jordan 63
Rishabh Pant run out (Jos Buttler/Chris Jordan) 6
Ravichandran Ashwin not out 0
Extras: (W-3) 3
Total: (6 wkts, 20 Overs) 168
Fall of Wickets: 9-1, 56-2, 75-3, 136-4, 158-5, 168-6.
Bowler: Ben Stokes 2-0-18-0, Chris Woakes 3-0-24-1, Sam Curran 4-0-42-0, Adil Rashid 4-0-20-1, Liam Livingstone 3-0-21-0, Chris Jordan 4-0-43-3.
Here's the innings report:
Brilliant Hardik lifts India to 168/6
Adelaide: Hardik Pandya revelled in the role of a finisher with a sensational 63 off 33 balls, lifting India to a par score of 168 for six against England in the second T20 World Cup semifinal here on Thursday.
Virat Kohli (50 off 40 balls) also occasionally displayed his regal array of strokes but it was the flamboyant Baroda man whose unbelievable end-over pyrotechnics took India to a more than respectable total, which had looked distinctly impossible after the first 10 overs.
In the last four overs, India scored 58 runs, courtesy four fours and five astonishing sixes from Pandya with a drop-dead gorgeous flick behind the square off Chris Jordan (3/43) being the stand out one. KL Rahul's (5) abject failure against bigger teams looked even more pronounced as Chris Woakes exposed his shortcomings with extra bounce in the second over.
But if India scored at least 20 runs less, blame it on skipper Rohit Sharma (27 off 28 balls) and the first 10 overs that yielded only 62 runs. In a semifinal, consuming 42 dot balls (effectively 7 maiden overs) doesn't paint a pretty picture. Had it not been for the sixes that Hardik hit off Sam Curran (0/42) and Jordan, India would have ended with a below-par score as Kohli, despite his fourth half-century, couldn't up the ante.
For England, Adil Rashid (1/20 in 4 overs) was the best bowler on the park and one can only pray that India don't miss Yuzvendra Chahal. There are times it seems that Kohli is on a mission to be better than the best. The six over extra cover off Woakes was simply unbelievable. The head position, the stillness and transfer of weight, everything in sync.
There was a short arm bowler's back-drive over Liam Livingstone's head even as Rohit struggled at the other end. The back to back boundaries off Sam Curran through mid-wicket region and similar shot over extra cover for a one-bounce boundary of Chris Jordan's deliveries were the only three convincing shots from the India skipper.
Not even the slog sweep for four off Rashid looked like he was in control and the final outcome wasn't certainly what people expected in a big ticket game from Rohit. Pandya came to India's rescue and changed the complexion of the innings.
Brief Scores:
India: 168 for 6 in 20 overs (Hardik Pandya 63, Virat Kohli 50; Chris Jordan 3/43, Adil Rashid 1/20).
India finish at 168-6 against England
20th Over:
Ball by ball: 1 1 W 6 4 W
Total runs scored: 12
19th Over:
Hardik Pandya is firing like a soldier at the moment. A boundary, a pull for six by him. Pant too contributed with a boundary in the over. Another one from Pandya for a boudary. Great over for India.
Ball by ball: 1 4 1 4 6 4
Total runs scored: 20
18th Over:
Yes! The accelerator has been finally pushed, and boy oh boy those back to back sixes off Pandya. First up comes with a solid pull and the second one with a helicopter flick over mid wicket. The over also brought Kohli fourth fifty in the tournament.
The over ended on a sad note to Indian fans as Kohli while trying to slice it loses his wicket. He made 50 runs from 40 balls.
Ball by ball: 6 6 0 1 2 W
Total runs scored: 15
17th Over:
Short stuff from Curran and Hardik hits the first ball for six. Slashed it on the off side of the square. The rest of the over dealt in two doubles and a single. India would look to put the foot incredible hard on the pedal.
Ball by ball: 6 2 0 2 0 1
Total runs scored: 11
16th Over:
England lost the review after a toe-crushing yorker by Jordan had Kohli fall flat on the pitch. LBW was denied. The next one, Kohli thrashes for four with a majestic extra-cover drive.
Ball by ball: Wd 1 0 4 1 2 1
Total runs scored: 10
15th Over:
Hardik Pandya smacks Livingstone for four in the second ball of his over. But what a shot from Virat Kohli through the covers, a pure class by the great batsman. India crosses the 100 mark.
Ball by ball: 1 4 0 1 0 4
Total runs scored: 10
14th Over:
Ball by ball: 1 1 4 1 Wd 1 1
Total runs scored: 10
13th Over:
Ball by ball: 1 0 0 1 1 0
Total runs scored: 3
12th Over:
Suryakumar Yadav is gone. Adil Rashid takes his wicket.
Ball by ball: 1 W 0 0 1 1
Total runs scored: 3
11th Over:
And SURYAKUMAR YADAV lights up the Adelaide stadium with a pull towards fine boundary. What a shot! The next, over covers. India needed it, Surya needed it.
Ball by ball: 0 1 1 0 6 4
Total runs scored: 12
10th Over:
Ball by ball: 0 1 2 0 1 1
Total runs scored: 5
9th Over:
WICKET!
Rohit waiting and producing a spectacular inside out, over covers for six against Chris Jordan. Godly timing! But the happiness was brief as he lost his wicket while trying to go for a six. Sam Curran takes the catch, Rohit out on 27 off 28.
Ball by ball: 1 4 0 0 W 1
Total runs scored: 6
8th Over:
England feeling the absence of Mark Wood in the middle overs. India trying to accelerate but England are too good with the ball especially Adil Rashid.
Ball by ball: 1 0 1 1 1 1
Total runs scored: 5
7th Over:
Ball by ball: 0 1 4 2 1 0
Total runs scored: 8
6th Over:
A six by Rohit on the first ball. Swept it powerfully for a four towards the mid-wicket. Adil Rashid, however, responded well and conceded just 3 in the rest of the over. That ends the powerplay.
Ball by ball: 4 0 0 1 1 1
Total runs scored: 7
5th Over:
And this time Rohit Sharma joins the party. After being kept quite for a long time, a wristy flick from him fetched a four towards the mid-wicket. There was another one, this time stepping out and pulling it for four in the same area.
Ball by ball: 1 4 4 1 0 0
Total runs scored: 10
4th Over:
An inside out, on the top over covers for SIX from Kohli. Shot of a King! The rest of the over dealt in singles.
Ball by ball: 6 1 1 0 Wd 1 0
Total runs scored: 10
3rd Over:
Exceptional over by Sam Curran, mixing up the slower ones and bowling a testing line to the Indian batters. Just one run from the over.
Ball by ball: 0 0 1 0 0 0
Total runs scored: 1
2nd Over:
WICKET!
Chris Woakes brought into the attack and India lose Rahul on the fourth ball. Woakes tried to bang in short and Rahul couldn't deal with the extra bounce extracted. Virat Kohli comes to the crease.
Ball by ball: 0 2 1 W 0 1
Total runs scored: 4
1st Over:
A cut by KL Rahul dispatches ball to the boundary in the deep point on the very first ball. The strip looks like a batting paradise. Ben Stokes corrected his length and got more straightened after a couple of wide-ish deliveries.
Ball by ball: 4 1 0 1 0 0
Total runs scored: 6
Here we go!
Both the teams have arrived for the national anthem.
England win toss, opt to field against India
News: India went with Rishabh Pant in place of Dinesh Karthik while England, marred with injuries, will not feature David Malan and Mark Wood in their playing XI.
Rohit Sharma: We would have batted first anyway. We've played some good cricket, another opportunity for us to play the same way we have all tournament. Important to hold the nerve and take the game will the end. We've played these guys a fair bit in recent years and know what strengths-weaknesses they have. Important to exploit that. Important to stay calm and do what we want to do. It (injury) was a scare but I'm fine now.
Jos Buttler: We're gonna bowl first. There is going to be a great atmosphere here. Dimensions at different, we will have to adapt. We have two changes - Malan and Wood are out with injuries - Salt and Jordan come in. Looks a good wicket. Hope it stays well the whole game.
Teams:
India (Playing XI): KL Rahul, Rohit Sharma(c), Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya, Rishabh Pant(w), Axar Patel, Ravichandran Ashwin, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mohammed Shami, Arshdeep Singh
England (Playing XI): Jos Buttler(w/c), Alex Hales, Philip Salt, Ben Stokes, Harry Brook, Liam Livingstone, Moeen Ali, Sam Curran, Chris Jordan, Chris Woakes, Adil Rashid
What do the experts have to say on the Adelaide pitch?
"Looks a good track and there could be some swing upfront. We're bang center today and Adelaide Oval is known for long-straight boundaries. And short square boundaries. Looks to be an absolute belter. There is a cover of grass that should help the surface to hold together and the best part is that it's a rock-hard surface. The average score here has been 157 but this looks a high-scoring track." said Pommie Mbangwa and Shane Watson.
Here's some food for thought:
If England beat India today, the tournament would very much resemble 1992. Pakistan beating New Zealand in the semifinals and locking horns at the MCG against England.
Contrarily, in case of an India win, it would be a repeat of 2007. India toppling Pakistan in the league game and then registering triumph over England in the semis to face arch-rival Pakistan in the finals.
Recent performances
India: W W L W W
England: W W L W
Head to Head: India have an upper hand having won 12 matches while England got over the line 10 times in T20 games. In the World Cups, however, India have won 2 games with England defeating the former only once. But the margin is too less to come to any judgment as to which team is better.
-- Welcome to the live blog of the second semi-final between India and England at Adelaide. The excitement is palpable as India will look to end the knockout jinx from their system and get to the final frontier to clinch the elusive World Cup title. While the boisterous Indian crowd in Adelaide would look to support the team, fans back in the country are in high spirits to see the Men In Blue clear their way to the finals. So, grab your snack because the match will potentially make it impossible for the lovers of the game to stay away from their TV sets.
