India Faces England In T20 World Cup Semi-Final: Last Guyana Match Reviewed

India is gearing up to face England in the second semi-final of the T20 World Cup 2024. The match will take place at Providence Stadium in Guyana on Thursday, June 27.

In their previous T20I match at this venue in August 2024, India played without key players like Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah, Ravindra Jadeja, and Mohammed Siraj. The Men in Blue had lost the first two matches of the series and were at risk of conceding an unassailable 3-0 lead when they entered the Providence Stadium on August 8, 2023.

In response to West Indies' total of 159 runs for five wickets, India lost their openers Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shubman Gill early. Jaiswal scored one run while Gill managed six. However, Suryakumar Yadav and Tilak Varma formed a crucial partnership. They added 87 runs off 51 balls to stabilize India's innings.

Suryakumar Yadav was particularly impressive, scoring 83 runs off just 44 balls with ten fours and four sixes. Tilak Varma remained not out on 49 off 37 balls. With only two runs needed from the last 14 deliveries, captain Hardik Pandya (20* off 15) hit a six over long-off on the fifth ball of the 18th over to secure India's victory and keep them alive in the series. Suryakumar Yadav was named Man of the Match.

West Indies had elected to bat first in their day game and posted a score of 159 for five wickets. Brandon King was their top scorer with 42 runs off as many balls. However, other top-order batsmen failed to make significant contributions.

Kuldeep Yadav dismissed King by catching and bowling him. Kyle Mayer, who scored 25 off 20 balls, was taken out by Axar Patel. Johnson Charles came in at number three but was trapped LBW by Kuldeep after scoring just 12 runs from 14 balls.

When West Indies were four down for 106 in the 15th over, captain Rovman Powell stepped up to ensure a strong finish for his team. He scored a quickfire 40 off just 19 balls, pushing West Indies past the 150-run mark.

Kuldeep Yadav finished with impressive figures of three wickets for 28 runs in his four overs. Axar Patel and Mukesh Kumar each took one wicket; Mukesh dismissed Shimron Hetmyer who scored nine off eight balls. Hardik Pandya, Yuzvendra Chahal, and Arshdeep Singh did not manage to take any wickets.

The Indian team had previously lost the second match at Providence Stadium by two wickets. This loss put them under pressure as they faced a potential series defeat if they lost again.

With this win against West Indies at Providence Stadium on August 8, India managed to stay alive in the series despite missing several key players from their squad.

The upcoming semi-final clash between India and England promises to be an exciting contest as both teams aim for a spot in the final of the T20 World Cup.