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:
India 21-1 (3), Rohit 9, Pant 1, Topley 0-14 (2)
Pant turns the ball away for a single to get off the mark. Rohit is hit in the midriff and India scarper through for another.
How important will that wicket of Kohli be?
Kohli out for 9! Bowled by Topley - India 19-1
Kohli has launched Topley into the stands for six with a big flick of the wrist, that was in the slot and he will make no mistakes to bring up his first boundary.
The next ball is a leading edge, they manage to run through for two, and it wasn’t within reach of the fielder.
Gone next ball! Topley has fired that one in and Kohli is out for just 9!
India 11-0 (2), Rohit 9, Kohli 1, Archer 0-5 (1)
Archer’s first ball just dies off the pitch and Kohli has launched the bat at it and got nowhere near!
The next ball Kohli just puts the ball into the pitch and runs through for a single for his first run of the game.
Rohit swings and misses three timers and is throwing his bat at it, St Lucia had a lot more bounce than Guyana and the batters haven’t adapted yet.
Rohit does get his second boundary, it was perfectly into the trap, it was short, and he cut the ball away, but Phil Salt at short leg has not seen that at all!
India 6-0 (1), Rohit 5, Kohli 0, Topley 0-6 (1)
Who will play South Africa at the Kensington Oval in Barbados on Saturday afternoon?
Reece Topley has ball in hand and starts for England. The first ball is a good one, the ball just goes across the outside edge of Rohit’s bat.
The next one is edged, Adil Rashid was in the ring at short third and it has flown over his head and away for four.
A pushed single brings Kohli on strike for the final three balls of the over. There is not looking like there is a lot of swing on offer.
Kohli’s first ball is a dot, and he comes down the pitch the next ball and misses it! Kohli stays on strike though as the ball comes off his thigh pad and they run through for a single.
England win the toss and elect to bowl
Here are some photos of the teams warming up:
India remain unchanged for the T20 World Cup semi-final
India: Rohit Sharma (capt), Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant (wk), Suryakumar Yadav, Shivam Dube, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah.
India vs England T20 World Cup semi-final
It should have got underway an hour ago, but the players are out on the field for the national anthems.
England team
England: Phil Salt, Jos Buttler (capt, wk), Jonny Bairstow, Harry Brook, Moeen Ali, Liam Livingstone, Sam Curran, Chris Jordan, Jofra Archer, Adil Rashid, Reece Topley.
England win the toss and elect to bowl
Rohit Sharma: “We would’ve batted first. It looks like good weather now, the weather seems clear now. It’s a big game and we want to put runs on the board.
“It looks a little dry, I hope as the game goes on it gets slower and slower.
“We’ve managed pretty well with all the travelling. We need to get the job done now. It’s a great opportunity for us.
“The mantra for us is to take things as they come, stay in the moment and let our ability do the talking.”
England win the toss and choose to bowl
Rohit Sharma says India will also be unchanged for the match, and added that had he won the toss he would have wanted to bat first.
Is that a touch of mind games?
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