India v England LIVE: T20 World Cup semi-final reaction after Jos Buttler’s team hammered in 68-run defeat
England face a tough challenge to defend their T20 World Cup title when they take on India in Guyana
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England have been heavily beaten in a 68-run defeat by India in the T20 World Cup semi-final in Guyana, after two rain delays.
Jos Buttler’s side had started the tournament as defending champions and struggled slightly with the ball to contain the flow of runs, with Rohit Sharma hitting an important 57 runs at the top of the order, as they put on 171 runs.
India’s innings was affected by a rain delay, but it did not appear to hold them back. When it came England’s turn to bat, they started with a brief promise, and Buttler made 23 runs from just 15 balls, but his wicket sparked the collapse from which they never recovered.
Harry Brook top-scored with 25 and they never threatened to get near the India total.
The draw has been stacked in India’s favour. Unlike England, who only found out where they would play this semi-final at the last minute, India and their fans have known for months. It was designed to benefit those watching TV in Asia rather than local or international audiences.
Follow all the live action from the match in Guyana with our blog below:
Rain stops play with India 65-2
The sun is reportedly out in Guyana and the covers should be moving soon.
Rain stops play with India 65-2
Here are some photos of the play we did get:
Rain stops play with India 65-2
Hearing some unconfirmed reports that there will be an update at 6pm BST.
Rain stops play with India 65-2
Jos Buttler turns to Liam Livingstone, we would have been about to find if the gamble paid off, but the rain has started to fall again and this time the players will leave the field.
India 65-2 (8), Rohit 37, Yadav 13, Jordan 0-10 (1)
Chris Jordan is introduced into the attack with all his variations. Again the low bounce is not what Rohit expects, he was trying for a boundary but had to settle for a single from the opening ball.
Another single follows, this time for Yadav, the first three balls have all gone for singles as the batters rotate the strike.
But Yadav has launched Jordan up over his own shoulder for a big six, that’s his first maximum of the game.
India 55-2 (7), Rohit 35, Yadav 5, Rashid 0-9 (1)
Time for spin and Adil Rashid, he has been a standout player for England. But the first one has just trickled away to the boundary and the rain has started to fall again...
Archer chased the ball all the way to the boundary, but couldn’t get the flick-back right and the ball trickled into the rope.
Rohit follows up a slightly fortunate boundary with a conventional sweep for another four.
India 46-2 (6), Rohit 26, Yadav 5, Curran 1-6 (1) - end of powerplay
After the wicket, India had to settle for singles, until Yadav launched one down the ground for four.
That’s the end of the powerplay, and England might be pretty happy with that, they’ve got two wickets and the scoring has not got out of hand at all. But this is expected to be a low-scoring pitch so they cannot let up here.
Pant out for 4! Bowled Curran ct Bairstow - India 40-2
Change of bowling now and Sam Curran will bowl the final over of the powerplay. The first ball is a dot, and this seems like a good change, just take the pace off a bit.
That was a tame dismissal! Pant has just chipped the ball to Bairstow at midwicket, and England have a crucial breakthrough.
India 40-1 (5), Rohit 25, Pant 4, Topley 1-25 (3)
A misfield from Rashid scuppers any chance of a run out the first ball of Topley’s third over.
Topley changes his angle, but it doesn’t work and Rohit comes across his crease before pulling to the leg side boundary and piercing the gap between the two fielders out on that side.
The next chance he gets Rohit expertly times one through the offside to the boundary. He is a key wicket in this match.
India 29-1 (4), Rohit 16, Pant 2, Archer 0-13 (2)
The low bounce has flummoxed Rohit so far, and the first from Archer’s second is just defended into the off side.
But the next one he has cut away into the gap between backward point and third and will pick up two more runs for it. Another leading edge is not timed at all but has just dropped over the fielder on the ring.
Again, Rohit flicks the ball away, but it will be just a single.
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