T20 World Cup: Team India survives Bethell scare, enters the final

India narrowly defeats England by seven runs in the T20 World Cup semifinal, securing a spot in the final.

It was a Thursday with an early weekend vibe and the fans relished every second. Despite Jacob Bethell’s incandescent ton, India prevailed over England by seven runs in the ICC T20 World Cup semifinal in Mumbai at the Wankhede Stadium.

Read the match highlights

Chasing India’s 253 for seven, England finished with 246 for seven. The visitors lost Philip Salt and skipper Harry Brook early. Even as Hardik Pandya and Jasprit Bumrah exulted, these wickets revealed Axar Patel’s safe hands. Running away from cover, Axar dived and caught Brook’s miscued shot.

ALSO WATCH Watch: What is India’s record in all T20 World Cup semifinals?

Jos Buttler perhaps got carried away after seeing Bethell wade into Varun Chakaravarthy with three consecutive sixes. The opener’s mighty heave against the harassed spinner, was an exercise in hope, and the stumps were in disarray.

England kept galloping as Bethell was astounding, Tom Banton unleashed a five-ball 17, and Will Jacks amplified the effect. When Jacks tried to take the aerial route, a sprinting Axar caught, relayed the ball to Shivam Dube, before toppling across the ropes.