India edge England in thrilling T20 World Cup semi-final despite Bethell century

[p]After [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/samson-sanju/nH19FPur/"]Sanju Samson[/a]'s scintillating 89 laid the platform for [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/india/fcOzl2uI/"]India[/a] to pile up a massive 253-7, [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/england/UJC5mtAU/"]England[/a] fell just short in what would have been a record chase, [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/cricket/england-UJC5mtAU/india-fcOzl2uI/?mid=0bdZsIom"]finishing on 246-7[/a].[/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/salt-philip/KYBtscdT/"]Phil Salt[/a] (5), [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/brook-harry/MefSexXu/"]Harry Brook[/a] (7) and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/buttler-joseph/bVycigXQ/"]Jos Buttler[/a] (25) fell early, but [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/bethell-jacob/AgfFyxtl/"]Bethell[/a], aided by [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/jacks-will/2o8aoySA/"]Will Jacks[/a] (35) kept England in the hunt.[/p][p][b]The left-hander hit seven sixes and eight fours in his 48-ball thrash before his run out in the final over finally allowed India to celebrate in front of 35,000 jubilant fans in Mumbai's Wankhede stadium.[/b][/p][embed guid="ecbe0780-9662-4d2b-8083-022a71a3ffc8" url="https://x.com/T20WorldCup/status/2029609316328833265" social-type="twitter" /][p]India will face [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/new-zealand/G6PWlrQB/"]New Zealand[/a] in Sunday's final in Ahmedabad as they attempt to become the first team to retain the trophy and the first to win it on home soil.[/p][p][b]"It's an unbelievable feeling, going to Ahmedabad for the final, a special feeling for the boys," [/b]said India captain Suryakumar Yadav, who paid tribute to England.[/p][p][b]"They were always in the game, always in the chase. I was very nervous, I'm glad someone didn't check my heart rate,"[/b] he said, before looking forward to the final.[/p][p][b]"In India, going for the title, there will be pressure, there will be nerves but the boys will be excited as well,"[/b] Suryakumar added.[/p][p]England captain Brook praised the way his side went about attacking a daunting target.[/p][p][b]"All of our lads should be really proud of the way we played tonight and throughout this competition,"[/b] said Brook.[/p][embed guid="f85b3a2e-ff2b-4543-a51c-60640401a93f" url="https://x.com/englandcricket/status/2029620306940178520" social-type="twitter" /][h2]Costly drop[/h2][p]The hosts, having been asked to bat by Brook, earlier flayed England's attack to all parts of the ground, hitting 19 sixes and 18 fours.[/p][p]Samson signalled his intent with a four and six off [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/archer-jofra/0xgJcAPF/"]Jofra Archer[/a]'s first over but was given a life on 15 when Brook dropped a simple chance at mid-off off Archer.[/p][p]It proved a costly mistake as, helped by some ill-disciplined bowling, Samson raced to his half-century off 26 balls with another huge six as [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/dawson-liam/hdqIknKT/"]Liam Dawson[/a]'s first over was pummelled for 19 runs.[/p][p][b]"I'll hold my hands up and say that I made a big mistake there, dropping Samson," [/b]said Brook.[/p][p][b]"As the old saying goes, catches win matches. At the end of the day, it cost us."[/b][/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/kishan-ishan/vsVSOdKD/"]Ishan Kishan[/a] put on 97 from 48 balls with Samson for the second wicket before the left-hander holed out to Jacks off [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/rashid-adil/0WgJtC4e/"]Adil Rashid[/a] in the 10th over to make it 117-2.[/p][embed guid="270e3c8a-7bf6-471b-8d81-02cf4ca19c2e" url="https://x.com/T20WorldCup/status/2029612123731755494" social-type="twitter" /][p]Samson powered on until Jacks returned to have him caught by Salt in the deep in the 14th over at which point India were 160-3.[/p][p][b]"It feels really great,"[/b] said Samson after being named player of the match. [b]"I kind of knew that I got some form going from the last game, so I thought I need to continue.[/b][/p][p][b]"Even 250 looked chaseable here and England played really well. All credit goes to how they batted and we really had a great semi-final."[/b][/p][p]Dube continued the onslaught with 43 off 25 balls with four sixes before being run out by Brook's direct hit.[/p][p][b][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/pandya-hardik/OWVGP0P6/"]Hardik Pandya[/a] hit 27 off 12 balls late on and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/varma-tilak/06FFf1DG/"]Tilak Varma[/a] 21 off seven to take India past the 250 mark.[/b][/p][p]Jacks was the pick of the England bowlers with 2-40 but the wayward Archer was plundered, taking 1-61 off his four overs.[/p]