NEW DELHI: Indian cricket fans were stumped to discover that star all-rounder Shivam Dube could have been travelling incognito on a train with them, fresh from delivering a record third T20 World Cup crown.

Dube, who slammed an unbeaten 26 off just 8 balls in Sunday’s final against New Zealand, was left stranded in Ahmedabad on Monday when flights to Mumbai were booked solid.

It meant he took a berth in a shared sleeper train for a seven-hour journey home – something almost unheard of in India, where top cricketers are major celebrities and often mobbed by fans when they appear in public.

Dube told the Indian Express on Wednesday that he went to great lengths to get back to his son, 4, and daughter, 2, cobbling together a disguise to avoid detection from fellow passengers.

READ MORE: Bat-ball balance hit for six at T20 World Cup

“I wore a cap, a mask, and a full-sleeved t-shirt,” the 32-year-old told the newspaper.

As he snuck onto the train with his wife and a friend in tow, Dube clambered onto the top bunk of his assigned carriage and wrapped himself in a blanket to remain concealed for the duration of the trip.

His cover was nearly blown however when an unwitting ticket collector asked if he’d just spotted the T20 hero, before being distracted by Dube’s wife.

As the journey finished Dube said he was escorted by police so “things were easy and the exit was smooth”.

“They thought I was landing at the airport, but were surprised when I told them that I was travelling by train.”

NEW DELHI: Twenty20 was designed to favour batters, but few anticipated the bowlers’ bloodbath that unfolded across four weeks in India and Sri Lanka at the just-concluded Twenty20 World Cup.

The 20-team tournament became a high-octane showcase of power-hitting, redefining the upper limits of scoring and rewriting what a “par” total looks like in this format.

A staggering 780 sixes were hit in this year’s tournament, a 50.87% jump from the 517 hammered in the 2024 edition in West Indies and the United States.

The 200-mark was breached a record 14 times and eventual champions India alone posted three of the four 250-plus totals in the tournament.

Flat tracks across both host nations combined with fearless intent pushed the collective batting strike rate to 134, the highest in tournament history and a stark indicator of where white-ball batting is heading.

READ MORE: India team to pocket $14 million for T20 World Cup win

As India muscled their way to a mammoth 255-5 in the final against New Zealand in Ahmedabad, former England captain Michael Vaughan took to X to say: “fantastic striking … but let’s be honest this isn’t a fair balance between Bat & Ball.”

New Zealand coach Rob Walter, however, saw little point in complaining about batting carnage if fans were enthralled.

“I guess it comes down to what you view as entertainment, really,” Walter told reporters.

“It seems to be the trend around the world that runs are the thing that people want to see. Of course, I believe you still want to have an even contest.”

That appetite for fours and sixes was reflected off the field as well.

READ MORE: India crush New Zealand to win third T20 World Cup title

The India-England semi-final in Mumbai shattered digital records, with ICC chairman Jay Shah noting on X a peak concurrency of 65.2 million viewers — the highest for any live event worldwide.

“It is tough, the bats are very good,” Walter said.

“The guys obviously practise hitting the ball far, and when the pitches give not much to the bowlers, it does make it very tough.

“But ultimately, if that’s the way the game’s going then the onus is obviously on the bowlers to develop their skills and develop them quickly.”

India’s Jasprit Bumrah is probably the template.

The seam-bowling genius, for the third time in a T20 World Cup, walked away with the best economy rate (6.21) of any player to have bowled 100-plus balls - a reminder that elite skill can still choke scoring even on highways.

“Bumrah is a once-in-a-generation bowler. I can call him a national treasure,” India captain Suryakumar Yadav said of his pace spearhead, who produced a match-winning haul in the final.

“He knows how it needs to be done. He is the best in the business.”

MUMBAI: Cricket’s governing body Wednesday rejected suggestions of unequal treatment after the West Indies and South Africa squads were stranded in India for more than a week following the T20 World Cup, with both now finally starting to fly out.

Airlines have cancelled or rerouted flights because of the war in the Middle East, throwing international travel into chaos.

Cricket West Indies said Tuesday its squad had waited nine days for a charter flight that was “repeatedly delayed”, calling the uncertainty “increasingly distressing”.

Former England captain Michael Vaughan also criticised the situation, noting on social media that England departed 36 hours after their semi-final exit last week while the West Indies and South Africa remained in Kolkata more than a week after being knocked out of the tournament.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) said it “rejects any suggestion that these decisions have been driven by anything other than safety, feasibility and welfare”.

“We understand that players, coaches, support staff and their families who have completed their ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 campaigns are anxious to return home,” it said in a statement.

West Indies players leave India on commercial flights after charter cancelled

“That they have not yet been able to do so is a source of genuine frustration, and the International Cricket Council shares that frustration.”

It also said there was no comparison between arrangements for South Africa and the West Indies and those made for England, “which arose from separate circumstances, routing options and different travel conditions”.

Four South Africa players and five family members have boarded flights and are making their way home, with all 29 remaining members of their contingent scheduled to depart in the next 24 hours, the ICC said.

South Africa’s World Cup ended on March 4.

Nine West Indies members have departed for the Caribbean, while the remaining 16 are booked on flights departing India in the next 12 hours.

West Indies exited the competition on March 1.

NEW DELHI: India’s all-conquering men’s cricket team will pocket $14 million after lifting the T20 World Cup for a record third time, the country’s cricket board said on Tuesday.

The co hosts and pre tournament favourites swept aside New Zealand by 96 runs in Sunday’s final in Ahmedabad to become the first team to retain the trophy and the first to win it on home soil.

Cricket commands an unrivalled following in the world’s most populous country, with top players enjoying star status and the game serving as a rare unifying force in an otherwise diverse nation.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), the world’s richest and most powerful cricket body, praised the players, support staff and selectors for the “historic achievement” as it announced the cash reward.

The victory cemented India’s place “among the most successful teams in the history of the format”, BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia said in a statement.

No pressure, no fun for India captain ahead of T20 World Cup final

The prize money will be shared among the entire team, including coaches and support staff.

The Indian team will separately receive $2.34 million from the International Cricket Council while runners-up New Zealand will earn $1.17 million.

Midnight celebrations broke out across the country on Sunday as delirious fans in blue Indian shirts took to the streets, beating drums and dancing to Bollywood hits.

The cricketing world hailed white-ball powerhouse India as they etched their name deeper into history with a third men’s Twenty20 World Cup title on Sunday, defeating New Zealand by 96 runs in Ahmedabad.

Opener Sanju Samson continued his prolific run with a third successive 80-plus score, earning him the player-of-the-tournament award, while pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah delivered a remarkable 4-15 on a flat track to claim player-of-the-match honours. “India’s formula is pretty simple,” former England captain Nasser Hussain said on Sky Sports.

“A batting line-up full of powerful hitters that will get you an above-par score and a bowler in Bumrah, who makes a below-par score probably enough. He’s an absolute genius, and when you combine those two elements, they’re virtually unbeatable.”

Fellow Sky Sports pundit and former England cricketer Michael Atherton said India were worthy champions.

“India are more than a pre-eminent T20 side. They are the pre-eminent white-ball side at the moment,” he said. “In the last few ICC global events before today they have won 30 out of 32 games.

“They are the strongest side in white-ball cricket.”

India crush New Zealand to win third T20 World Cup title

Former England captains Michael Vaughan and Kevin Pietersen also praised India’s dominance, lauding on social media the team’s sustained excellence in the format, while current and past Indian cricketers including Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Sachin Tendulkar, Harbhajan Singh and Ajinkya Rahane took to social media to praise the team’s success. Former Pakistan fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar credited India’s success to structural strength and long-term planning.

“India have proven they are thinking in the correct manner and they have given opportunities to the right people at the right time,” Akhtar said on ‘tapmad’ YouTube channel.

“The speed at which India is going and the way they are investing in their system, and also the way they respect their elder generation of cricket, is commendable.”

With India now holding three T20 World Cup titles, captain Suryakumar Yadav said the side would definitely aim to chase gold at the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028, when they will also target another T20 World Cup crown.

AHMEDABAD: India won a record third T20 World Cup title and became the first team to defend their crown with a 96-run thumping of New Zealand in a lop-sided final on Sunday.

Suryakumar Yadav’s India were also the first team to lift the trophy on home soil as over 86,000 fans celebrated at the Narendra Modi Stadium.

England and the West Indies have won two titles each.

India beat both those teams en route to the title, including a clutch victory over the West Indies in their final Super Eights match when defeat would have seen them eliminated.

“We never panicked. Kept our heads above the water. Teams that do that win the tournament and I am very happy we did it,” said India bowler Jasprit Bumrah.

READ MORE: No pressure, no fun for India captain ahead of T20 World Cup final

Sanju Samson’s blistering 89 off 46 balls guided the co-hosts to 255-5 and Bumrah starred as New Zealand were bowled out for 159 in 19 overs.

Part-time spinner Abhishek Sharma claimed the final wicket of Jacob Duffy, securing a dominant victory.

“I am very grateful for everyone who supported me,” said Samson, who was out of the team earlier in the tournament before reeling off three consecutive scores of 89 or better when it mattered most.

“This itself is very big for me, I want to enjoy it right now and then after a few day will figure out what more to do.”

Axar Patel struck two early blows, including the dangerous Finn Allen for nine, with his left-arm spin.

Bumrah was again at his mesmerising best, delivering a succession of brilliant slower-ball yorkers to finish with figures of 4-15.

Opener Tim Seifert hit 52 off 26 balls but his departure in the ninth over off struggling spinner Varun Chakravarthy effectively ended the Black Caps’ slim hopes.

Wickets kept tumbling and Bumrah struck with successive deliveries to bring up a hat-trick ball which was just about negotiated by Lockie Ferguson.

Skipper Mitchell Santner hit 43 but was never going to be able to prevent New Zealand from slipping to their second T20 World Cup final loss after they went down to Australia in 2021.

India exorcised the ghosts of the past at the same venue from when they were shocked by Australia in the 2023 ODI World Cup final.

Samson sparkles

Earlier, the in-form Samson, who hit 97 not out and 89 in his previous two innings to keep India in the tournament, hit five fours and eight sixes to thrill the raucous home crowd, which included former World Cup winning captains Rohit Sharma and MS Dhoni.

Samson’s opening stand of 98 with Abhishek, who plundered 52 off 21 balls, laid the platform for India to go on and score more than 250 for a second straight match, after their seven-run semi-final win over England, and for the third time in the tournament.

Abhishek and Samson waited two overs before they launched a batting blitz to flay New Zealand’s attack to all parts of the ground during the powerplay.

Rachin Ravindra finally broke the partnership, having Abhishek caught behind off a wide delivery.

Samson was joined by Ishan Kishan, who hammered 54 off 25 balls with four fours and as many sixes.

Samson reached his third successive fifty and changed gears to hit Ravindra for three straight sixes.

Jimmy Neesham pulled things back for New Zealand with three wickets in one over to give them hope of keeping India to a gettable total.

He removed Samson, Kishan and Suryakumar for a duck – the last two on successive balls.

But Shivam Dube finished with a flourish, blasting an unbeaten 26 off eight balls as he hit Neesham for three fours and two sixes in the 20th over, leaving New Zealand with far too much to do.

AHMEDABAD: Tens of thousands of Indian cricket fans streamed toward the T20 World Cup final stadium Sunday and millions more will be glued to their televisions desperate to witness a historic home triumph.

India face New Zealand in Ahmedabad as they attempt to become the first team to retain the trophy, the first to win it on home soil and the first to claim a third world T20 crown.

Cricket’s T20 showpiece, a month-long tournament of 55 matches featuring 20 teams, concludes on Sunday evening at the 130,000-seat Narendra Modi Stadium, the world’s largest cricket venue.

Diehard supporters arrived from across the country, many clad in Indian colours and waving the tricolour flag.

No pressure, no fun for India captain ahead of T20 World Cup final

Anil, a wedding photographer, travelled 1,200 kilometres (745 miles) by train from the southern city of Hyderabad with his brother dreaming they will see their team triumph.

“I hope India wins,” said the 18-year-old who goes by only his first name.

Hundreds of vendors, all dressed in Indian jerseys, lined the pavement from the nearest metro rail station to the stadium – painting the entire kilometre-long stretch blue.

‘Home crowd behind us’

Businessman Yogen Vohra, from Mumbai, turned up with a large group of his friends.

“For us India are the favourites,” said Vohra, 45.

India, the world’s top-ranked T20 team, knocked out England in a nerve-shredding semi-final in Mumbai.

The match drew 619 million views on streaming platform JioHotstar, according to the company, including a 65 million peak at the same time.

International Cricket Council (ICC) chairman Jay Shah said it “shattered the world record for digital viewership”.

India, the world’s most populous country with 1.4 billion people, is the epicentre of the T20 game through the lucrative Indian Premier League.

In the capital New Delhi, government civil servant Dilip Vaishnav was hoping Indian pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah would weave his magic again with the ball, like he did against England.

“The team looks in great shape and great spirits. Bumrah, as ever, is the silent guardian of the team,” the 37-year-old said.

Dozens of Bollywood dancers and live music will be part of the show ahead of the match, which begins at 7:00 pm (1330 GMT).

Grammy Awards winning singer Ricky Martin will also perform – the 1990s pop icon last month guest-starred at the Super Bowl, alongside fellow Puerto Rican Bad Bunny.

Ticket prices and hotel tariffs skyrocket ahead of T20 World Cup final

“Sport and music have a unique way of bringing people together,” Martin said, in a statement ahead of the match, saying it was a “celebration of that shared passion”.

Also on stage will be Indian musicians including Gujarati singer Falguni Pathak and Bhangra star Sukhbir.

Rashid Khan, from Uttar Pradesh state, said he believed “the whole country will stop to watch” Sunday’s blockbuster.

“India has been playing fearless cricket in this tournament,” the 52-year-old said.

“If our top order fires, I don’t see anyone stopping us. New Zealand are always dangerous in knockouts, but with the home crowd behind us, I’m confident India will lift the trophy.”

AHMEDABAD: Ticket prices for Sunday’s Twenty20 World Cup final between India and New Zealand have soared on the black market, with fans shelling out more than 15 times the original rate as demand overwhelmed supply ahead of the title clash at the Narendra Modi Stadium.

Official tickets, starting at 2,000 Indian rupees ($21.76), sold out within minutes on BookMyShow, prompting thousands of fans turning to unofficial routes.

Some tickets with a face value of 3,500 rupees were selling at 54,000 when Reuters checked on the eve of the match.

Scalpers have seized control of the resale market, pushing prices far beyond face value as supporters scrambled for a seat to witness India’s bid for back-to-back titles at the world’s largest cricket stadium where more than 100,000 predominantly home fans are expected to turn up.

READ MORE: New Zealand want to ‘break a few hearts’ in World Cup final

“I’ve paid 35,000 rupees for a 3,000-rupee ticket because I couldn’t get through the waiting list,” said a businessman from Mumbai requesting anonymity.

“There are specific WhatsApp groups for reselling tickets. You only get added if you’re serious, and it works strictly on advance payment so buyers don’t back out.”

Ahmedabad police arrested a youth for reselling tickets at an inflated rate, local media reported.

“The situation is not new to us. We paid exorbitant prices even during the 2023 ODI World Cup,” said a Delhi resident.

Price has also ballooned on online resale platforms of tickets starting at 11,000 rupees.

READ MORE: No pressure, no fun for India captain ahead of T20 World Cup final

The price hikes have become a nightmare for the fans who cannot afford inflated rates and risk becoming prey for scammers.

The Gujarat Cricket Association (GCA) said it had no knowledge of what was going on outside.

“Bookings happen only through the BookMyShow app. The cricket association does not sell any physical tickets,” GCA secretary Anil Patel told Reuters by telephone.

The International Cricket Council did not respond to Reuters’ request for comment.

Ahmedabad’s hotel prices have also skyrocketed at least 10 times to cash in on the cricket hysteria.

Properties near the venue were fully booked despite the price hike.

Budget hotels along the Mumbai-Ahmedabad highway and in nearby Gandhinagar, which usually charge 4,000 rupees per night, were demanding rates of 40,000.

“This is our peak time to earn profits as a large number of people come to watch the match,” a local hotel owner said.

Another hotel owner said the rush would have been a lot less had India not qualified for the final.

AHMEDABAD: New Zealand will “not mind breaking a few hearts” in the T20 World Cup final against defending champions and hosts India, captain Mitchell Santner said on Saturday.

Santner’s side will face India on Sunday in Ahmedabad with over 100,000 home fans expected to fill the Narendra Modi Stadium.

New Zealand reached the 2021 final, losing to Australia, and have never won a white-ball World Cup.

“I wouldn’t mind winning a trophy,” Santner said.

He added: “It’s going to be obviously a challenge where everyone knows we’re probably not the favourites.

“But yeah, I wouldn’t mind breaking a few hearts to lift the trophy for once.”

New Zealand have blown hot and cold.

READ MORE: India eye T20 history, New Zealand hunt maiden World Cup

They hammered South Africa – unbeaten until then – by nine wickets in the semi-finals after Finn Allen blasted the fastest-ever century at the tournament.

But they also lost to South Africa and England earlier in the competition.

They face an India side on a roll with three straight wins.

In 2023, Australia led by Pat Cummins silenced the home crowd in Ahmedabad in the final of the ODI World Cup.

“I guess that’s the goal, is to silence the crowd,” said Santner.

“T20 cricket is fickle at times. We’ve seen South Africa playing very good cricket all the way through and then had a little hiccup against us and out.

“So I think for us, it’s taking confidence from that and if we go about our business the same way, we can upset another big team.”

Top-ranked India are attempting to become the first team to win back-to-back T20 World Cups and the first to lift the trophy on home soil.

They would also be the first to win the title three times.

But they will have to withstand the expectations of a packed house plus hundreds of millions more watching on TV.

Santner feels that level of expectation could weigh heavily on them.

“So I think that comes with a lot of added pressure as well,” said Santner. “So if we can go out there and try and put, I guess, that added pressure on them and see what happens.”

AHMEDABAD: The best way to deal with pressure is to embrace it, India captain Suryakumar Yadav reminded his teammates ahead of Sunday’s final of the Twenty20 World Cup at the Narendra Modi Stadium.

India are bidding to become the first team to retain the T20 World Cup title and to achieve that, they will have to deal with not just a strong New Zealand XI but also the weight of expectation from a cricket-mad nation of about 1.4 billion people.

Leading the team in the final of a home World Cup was a “special feeling”, and Suryakumar said they were looking forward to the challenge.

“There are nerves, butterflies in the stomach, but as I always say - if there’s no pressure, there’s no fun,” Suryakumar told reporters on Saturday.

“I’m very excited. All the boys and support staff, and I’m sure all of India is excited for tomorrow.”

More than 100,000 predominantly home fans are expected to fill the world’s largest cricket stadium where Australia famously beat India in the final of the 50-overs World Cup three years ago.

READ MORE: India eye T20 history, New Zealand hunt maiden World Cup

Expectations are mounting again as India also try to become the first host to win a T20 World Cup.

Suryakumar said they try not to talk about cricket and the presence of “characters” like Arshdeep Singh and Axar Patel keeps the dressing room atmosphere light.

“It’s very important to have such characters around, because when the situation is tight, you need someone to joke around in the bus and in the dressing room, to calm the dressing room,” said Suryakumar.

“We do not talk about cricket-intense situations because players, like Axar, Arshdeep, (Jasprit) Bumrah - all these people, they know what to do.

“We want to be very relaxed, be in the present, not think about what will happen in the final.”

Suryakumar said as captain, he had also resisted the temptation to be the ‘big brother’ in the dressing room and encouraged individuality.

“I feel a good team culture is very important. A happy team atmosphere is the key,” he added.

“Give them freedom, listen to their ideas as well about what they feel.

“I think it is very important to understand what everyone wants in the team.”

AHMEDABAD, INDIA: bid to become the first team to retain the Twenty20 World Cup will collide with New Zealand’s quest for a maiden global white-ball crown when the finalists step on to the field at the world’s largest cricket stadium on Sunday.

The 20-team tournament will end in an Ahmedabad amphitheatre where more than 100,000 fans will expect a gladiatorial slugfest and most will hope for a home triumph.

The stands will transform into a sea of blue for Suryakumar Yadav’s men but India do not have particularly sweet memories of their rivals or the venue in recent global finals.

Personnel have since changed but in New Zealand, India face opponents who got the better of them in the World Test Championship final in 2021 in England.

Two years later, Australia stunned the cavernous Narendra Modi Stadium when they humbled India, previously unbeaten in the tournament, in the 50-over World Cup final.

Still, it is a testament to India’s consistency that reaching finals has become almost habitual.

This home campaign has not been flawless, but they are where it matters - one win from becoming the first host nation to lift a T20 World Cup.

As the world’s top-ranked T20 side, they have the means to do it.

Sanju Samson has reinvigorated the top order with back-to-back match-winning knocks to fire the hosts into the final.

India beat England in high-scoring T20 World Cup semi-final

His elevation has added a valuable left-right variety at the top, and India have shown tactical flexibility to rejig their batting order whenever needed.

With the ball, Jasprit Bumrah has led superbly, earning plaudits for strangling batters in the game’s most unforgiving format for bowlers.

Seam-bowling all-rounder Hardik Pandya has been on point too, though the leakage of no-balls and wides from Arshdeep Singh and Shivam Dube - especially at the death - remains a concern.

THE KIWI PRIDE

Frontline spinner Varun Chakravarthy has not been at his best but Axar Patel’s steady returns as a spin-bowling all-rounder have been a major plus.

“There will be nerves, but then the boys and the whole support staff will be excited as well,” Suryakumar said after beating England.

New Zealand’s path to the final was hardly serene either and they only reached the last four after Pakistan failed to win big against Sri Lanka.

Then came a thunderclap - a nine-wicket demolition of previously unbeaten South Africa in the first semi-final that left fans and pundits rubbing their eyes in disbelief.

Finn Allen, who smashed a record 33-ball hundred in that match, and Tim Seifert form arguably the most explosive opening pair in T20 cricket.

Rachin Ravindra’s ability to tailor his batting to any situation and Glenn Phillips’ natural aggression make it a formidable batting lineup.

Matt Henry leads a sharp pace attack and New Zealand also have plenty of variety in their spin department, which has been bolstered by the late introduction of off-spinner Cole McConchie.

While there is no lack of skill and talent in their squad, New Zealand pride themselves on resilience.

“It just shows that us as a team, we get up for the fight,” Allen said.

“Those important fixtures, we really get up for them as a team. We’re prepared to fight till the end.”

England head coach Brendon McCullum said he intends to continue in the role despite his side’s exit from the Twenty20 World Cup ​following a seven‑run defeat to holders India in Mumbai on Thursday.

McCullum, 44, ‌took charge of England’s test setup in 2022 and added the white‑ball responsibilities in January 2025 under a contract running through 2027.

His tenure has included a difficult ​stretch, notably a 4-1 Ashes defeat in Australia that prompted the ​England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) to launch a “thorough review” into ⁠the team’s preparations in January.

“I love the job. It’s a great job. ​It doesn’t come without its challenges, of course, but that is the ​nature of it,” McCullum told Sky Sports.

“I feel we have achieved some really cool things over the last few years but there is still so much to achieve ​with the side, across all formats.

“A bit of time to reflect, to ​let things land and objectively look at what is and isn’t working.”

England fell short ‌in ⁠their pursuit of 254 despite a blistering 105 off 48 balls from Jacob Bethell on Thursday, and McCullum praised both the innings and the fight shown by the white-ball group under captain Harry Brook.

“I think the white-ball ​side has been ​exceptional post-Ashes, winning ⁠away in Sri Lanka and then getting to this stage at the T20 World Cup,” McCullum said.

“I think ​we have played some good cricket with a real ​identity about ⁠it under Brook’s captaincy.

“Harry Brook’s leadership throughout, after a couple of tough months leading in… for him to have the mental fortitude to be able ⁠to galvanise ​the team, and connect the side how ​he has, it’s been superb,” he said.

England will next host New Zealand in a three-match ​test series in June.

MUMBAI: India put some forgettable fielding moments from this year’s Twenty20 World Cup in the rear-view mirror during their semi-final win over England on Thursday, as Axar Patel’s inspired display reminded his teammates of their quality.

The defending champions had dropped 13 catches heading into the match at the Wankhede Stadium - the most by any side in this year’s tournament - but Axar single-handedly raised the level and shifted the momentum in their seven-run win.

Axar’s first magical moment came as England captain Harry Brook looked to hit pacer Jasprit Bumrah over extra cover, when he sprinted back with the ball dropping over his shoulder to complete a stunning catch in the fifth over.

As Jacob Bethell and Will Jacks raised England’s run rate in their chase of 254, Axar stepped up again to halt their momentum with a relay catch on the edge of the boundary to dismiss Jacks and draw roaring applause from the stands.

Axar caught the ball after a dash towards the ropes, but realising that his momentum would take him over, he flicked it mid-air into Shivam Dube’s hands to complete the dismissal.

India beat England in high-scoring T20 World Cup semi-final

“The momentum of both the catches was different,” Axar told reporters in the mixed zone. “I liked the way I caught Harry Brook. It was a tough one. But considering the situation of the game, Will Jacks’ catch was very important. I felt the ball was chasing me today.”

The 32-year-old, who has forced his way back into the side after missing matches against the Netherlands and South Africa as India picked Washington Sundar, has made a strong case for inclusion in Sunday’s final against New Zealand.

India will look to win an unprecedented second straight T20 title in the Ahmedabad showpiece and Axar, who has made 16 runs and picked up eight wickets in six matches, will have added motivation if picked. “I’ve been waiting for this moment.

It’ll be a proud moment to play at home in front of my family,“ he said. Sanju Samson’s 89 earlier laid the platform for India’s win as they posted 253-7.

“Credit goes to him,” Axar said. “He has carried forward the confidence from his last knock and experience matters in such pressure situations. He batted quite easily and wasn’t rushing into anything.”

MUMBAI: India clung on to beat England by seven runs in a thrilling T20 World Cup semi-final in Mumbai on Thursday, despite Jacob Bethell’s superb 105.

After Sanju Samson’s scintillating 89 laid the platform for India to pile up a massive 253-7, England fell just short in what would have been a record chase, finishing on 246-7.

Phil Salt (5), Harry Brook (7) and Jos Buttler (25) fell early, but Bethell, aided by Will Jacks (35) kept England in the hunt.

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.

India will face New Zealand 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.

Also read: Allen’s record ton powers New Zealand into T20 World Cup final

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.

Samson signalled his intent with a four and six off Jofra Archer’s first over but was given a life on 15 when Brook dropped a simple chance at mid-off off Archer.

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 Liam Dawson’s first over was pummelled for 19 runs.

Ishan Kishan put on 97 from 48 balls with Samson for the second wicket before the left-hander holed out to Jacks off Adil Rashid in the 10th over to make it 117-2.

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.

Dube continued the onslaught with 43 off 25 balls with four sixes before being run out by Brook’s direct hit.

Hardik Pandya hit 27 off 12 balls late on and Tilak Varma 21 off seven to take India past the 250 mark.

Jacks was the pick of the England bowlers with 2-40 but the wayward Archer was plundered, taking 1-61 off his four overs.

KOLKATA: New Zealand’s Matt Henry played a doting father to his new-born son back home and returned to help his team reach the T20 World Cup final, all in a space of five days.

Pace spearhead Henry returned figures of 2-34 in New Zealand’s crushing nine-wicket win over South Africa in the first semi-final in Kolkata on Wednesday.

Opener Finn Allen blasted the fastest-ever T20 World Cup hundred in 33 balls to lead his team into Sunday’s final in Ahmedabad, where they will face India or England.

Henry’s bowling effort was special after he rejoined the team late on the eve of the match.

He the took field less than 24 hours after he landed back in India after flying home for the birth of his second child after New Zealand’s last Super Eights match against England on February 27.

Allen’s record ton powers New Zealand into T20 World Cup final

“There was a lot of sleep happening on the way back to be honest,” a smiling Henry told reporters.

“So yeah just focusing on my family to get home, that was important for me, and then it worked out that I could get back for the semi-final so it’s great to be here.”

Henry and his wife Holly Carran have welcomed a baby boy.

“They’re doing great so yeah it was pretty special to be able to get home for that,” said the 34-year-old Henry.

“Obviously Holly’s doing really well and Jack’s really good as well and Annabelle’s enjoying being a big sister so it’s all good.”

New Zealand have reached their second T20 World Cup final. They lost the title clash to Australia in 2021 in the United Arab Emirates.

“It’s pretty special to be able to reach another final, the guys are really excited but for now just enjoy this (win),” said Henry.

“I think the guys have been playing some really good cricket.

“Finn was just unbelievable so we’ll enjoy that and then we can move on and get ready for what’s to come.”

KOLKATA: New Zealand’s Finn Allen blasted the fastest century in T20 World Cup history in Kolkata on Wednesday as his side hammered South Africa by nine wickets to reach the final.

Chasing 170 to win the first semi-final, Allen hit an unbeaten 100 off just 33 balls, to obliterate the previous mark of 47 balls by Chris Gayle, as New Zealand raced home with 7.1 overs to spare.

Allen went on a rampage as he finished with two fours, two sixes and a four off successive balls to hit the winning runs and reach his hundred with a roar of delight at Eden Gardens.

Tim Seifert hit 58 in a 117-run opening stand with Allen off just 9.1 overs to set up the victory romp.

Seifert hit two sixes and seven fours while Allen bludgeoned eight sixes and 10 fours in a brutal display of controlled power hitting.

Also read: England have belief and skills to take down India, says Brook

New Zealand, who edged into the semi-finals on net run rate but are seeking a first World Cup title, will play either India or England in Sunday’s final in Ahmedabad.

Spinners Rachin Ravindra and Cole McConchie took two wickets each to restrict South Africa to 169-8 after New Zealand elected to field first.

The 2024 runners-up South Africa, led by Aiden Markram, had been unbeaten in seven matches but slumped to 77-5 before Marco Jansen hit an unbeaten 55 to give the total some respect.

Seifert reached his fifty off fast bowler Lungi Ngidi. Allen raised his half-century off 19 balls.

Kagiso Rababa bowled Seifert in the 10th over but it wasS South Africa’s only success.

Spinners Rachin Ravindra and Cole McConchie earlier took two wickets each before Tristan Stubbs (29) and Jansen put on 73 for South Africa.

Jansen hit two fours and five sixes in his 30-ball knock.

McConchie struck first in the second over with his off-spin to send back Quinton De Kock for 10 and Ryan Rickelton next ball, but Dewald Brevis avoided the hat-trick.

Left-arm spinner Ravindra had Markram caught in the deep by Daryl Mitchell for 18.

David Miller fell for six to Ravindra five balls later, with Mitchell again taking the catch at long-on.

South Africa had lost half their side in 10.2 overs when Jimmy Neesham cut short Brevis’s knock on 34.

Ferguson bowled Stubbs but Jansen hit him for six to reach his fifty.

Pace bowler Matt Henry, who arrived back only on Tuesday night after going home for the birth of his child, took 2-34.

MUMBAI: India will need a “special performance” to beat a “street-smart” England in their T20 World Cup semi-final in Mumbai, bowling coach Morne Morkel warned on Wednesday.

Sanju Samson’s sparkling 97 not out enabled India to chase down 196 against the West Indies in a winner-takes-all clash on Sunday in Kolkata.

Morne said India would again need someone “to put their hand up” against Harry Brook’s side on Thursday night to keep the nation’s dream of a home World Cup win alive.

Morkel agreed India had not put together a flawless display in the tournament yet, but said that did not matter.

“We haven’t really spoken about the perfect game,” Morne told reporters at Mumbai’s Wankhede stadium after India’s final training session before Thursday’s big clash.

“It’s not about how you get to the semi-finals. It’s about the next two games, how we’re going to play there.

“I think the quality of this team has been shown that on the day somebody will put their hand up.

“Then hopefully, especially tomorrow night, we can put that special performance in.”

It is the third T20 World Cup in a row that India will play England in the semi-finals.

Both previous times the winners went on to lift the trophy.

READ MORE: England ‘not fearing anything’ against India, says Curran

In 2022, England crushed India by 10 wickets in Adelaide and beat Pakistan in the Melbourne final.

Two years ago India won in Guyana by a similarly dominant 68 runs before downing South Africa in Barbados.

This time, though, India will have the backing of 35,000 fiercely partisan fans in Mumbai.

“It’s a big occasion tomorrow night here, a semi-final, a great stadium to play a great game of cricket,” said Morkel.

“So hopefully the boys can rock up tomorrow and just be calm and execute those skills.”

India are leaving nothing to chance in their preparations.

Training on Tuesday night was delayed by an hour so it did not coincide with a lunar eclipse, which is considered unlucky in India.

“I was told about the lunar eclipse and the session was pushed backwards,” admitted Morkel.

“I think the most important thing to focus on was the quality the guys put in at training, which was great to see.”

India hosted the T20 World Cup in 2016 and lost in a Mumbai semi-final to eventual champions the West Indies.

India are wary of the threat posed by England, who were shaky in the group phase but powered through the Super Eights with wins over Sri Lanka, Pakistan and New Zealand.

“They’re a team that’s street smart. Obviously there’s a lot of quality in their side,” said Morkel.

“Their batting is deep, which makes them a very dangerous side. With the ball, they’ve got a lot of attacking options.

“The way they approach a T20 game, fearless, trying to take the game on, will give you opportunities.

“Tomorrow is going to be a good shoot-out between two aggressive teams.”

South Africa play New Zealand in the first semi-final later on Wednesday.

MUMBAI: England are drawing confidence from a run of tight victories ahead of their Twenty20 World Cup semi-final against India, captain Harry Brook said, adding that his team’s resilience would be a key factor on Thursday at the Wankhede Stadium.

England’s route to the last four has not all been smooth sailing, with the two-time champions advancing after wins over Sri Lanka, Pakistan and New Zealand, against whom they needed 43 runs off the final 18 balls to get over the line.

“We’ve won tight games, which in World Cups prove to be very important, and we’ve got a lot of confidence going into the deeper parts of the game,” Brook told reporters on Wednesday.

“We’ve won games, which we probably shouldn’t have won, and it just feels like we’ve never really been out of any game so far, which holds you in good stead in these world competitions.

Brook’s own form has underpinned that message. The 27-year-old struck a 50-ball hundred to lift England past Pakistan in Pallekele.

“I don’t believe that we need a perfect game to win the competition. The games that we have won have been nowhere near perfect, and we still managed to get the wins convincingly in some of them, and then tight in the other games,” Brook said.

India need cool heads to cope with England power game in semi-final, says Morkel

“It’s just the unity that we’ve had to be able to get across the line, the belief that everybody’s shown throughout the games and the calmness that we’ve had when the bowlers have stood at the top of the mark.”

Former captain Jos Buttler’s form has been scrutinised, with the opener making only 62 runs in seven matches.

Buttler hit for an extended period in the nets on Wednesday.

“I think leaving him alone is probably the best thing to do. He’s been a powerhouse cricketer for many years… there should be no reason to question why he’s in the team,” Brook said.

England’s top two wicket-takers in the tournament are spinners Adil Rashid and Liam Dawson.

“I feel like England always get a bad rap about playing against spin. We’ve gone to Sri Lanka and we’ve won six games in a row against subcontinent sides, who are very good in their own backyard,” Brook said.

“We’ve got a lot of confidence playing on turning pitches. (Varun) Chakravarthy is one of the best bowlers in the world, and I’ll try my best to face him and score as many runs as I can against him.”

The winners on Thursday will advance to Sunday’s final against South Africa or New Zealand, who meet in the other semi-final on Wednesday.

KOLKATA: New ​Zealand captain wants his team to piece together their first “perfect game” ‌of the Twenty20 World Cup when they face in-form South Africa in Wednesday’s semi-final at Eden Gardens with a wound fresh in their minds.

South Africa remain the tournament’s only unbeaten team and their seven wins ​in a row include a seven-wicket thumping of New Zealand in the group stage.

While ​that loss still rankled, Santner said the familiarity bred from that clash left ⁠little room for surprises.

“We haven’t probably played the perfect game throughout this tournament. I ​guess that’s a good thing for us,” Santner told reporters on Tuesday.

“I guess we can put ​it all together, put us in a pretty good position.

“I think there’s no real hiding or secrets about what South Africa are going to bring for us. We know they’re going to probably roll out the ​same team… they probably know what we’re going to do as well.”

Having played all three ​Super Eights games in Sri Lanka, New Zealand are wary of how the pitch at the Eden Gardens ‌would ⁠behave and are braced to adjust.

While 2024 runners-up South Africa appear more balanced on paper, Santner said the contest will hinge on who reads conditions fastest.

Unbeaten South Africa face ‘fresh start’ in semi-final: Markram

“It’s all up to the surface and adapting as quick as we can…they have kind of all bases covered,” he said. “That’s why ​they’re undefeated.”

Both teams are ​chasing a first men’s ⁠white-ball World Cup and Santner promised a full-throttle effort to reach Sunday’s final.

“We know the heartbreak of South Africa two years ago. I ​think again, they’re playing some very good cricket, as they’ve shown throughout ​this tournament.”

“We ⁠know South Africa are going to be a threat, as they’ve shown.

“We’re just going to go there and try to put some pressure on them at different stages of the game, and they’re ⁠going ​to do the same for us.”

New Zealand fast bowler ​Matt Henry, who had returned home on paternity leave, will rejoin the squad on Tuesday night and Santner could not ​confirm if he would play in the semi-final.

KOLKATA: South Africa captain Aiden Markram on Tuesday said his team’s win over New Zealand in the group phase will count for nothing in the T20 World Cup semi-final, which will be a “completely fresh start”.

The two teams clash at Kolkata’s Eden Gardens in the first semi-final on Wednesday, with both having never lifted a cricket World Cup.

South Africa are the only unbeaten side in the last four and are trying to rid themselves of a reputation for choking in the final stages at World Cups.

They have been the team to beat in this edition and got the better of New Zealand by seven wickets in a group game in Ahmedabad on February 15.

“We had a good run against them in the group stages, but both teams have played a lot of cricket since then,” Markram told reporters.

READ MORE: South Africa juggernaut faces knockout test against New Zealand

“It’s a completely fresh start tomorrow and it being a semi-final which is exciting as well.

“I don’t think it’s as straightforward as just being able to repeat that. We’ll try to bring our best game to the front again.”

South Africa suffered a heartbreaking defeat in the 2024 T20 World Cup final against India in Barbados, when they needed 30 off 30 balls with six wickets and lost by seven runs after a clatter of wickets.

South Africa beat India and the West Indies in the Super Eights to have many marking them down as the favourites to lift the trophy.

“With regards to being favourites or not, that’s all different people’s opinions,” said Markram.

“Us as a team really just try to focus on putting good games of cricket together and playing that exciting brand that we’ve been trying to play for the last 18 months or so.

Markram has led South Africa from the front with 268 runs including three half-centuries and a top score of 86 not out in seven matches.

He holds an impressive captaincy record of 15 wins in 16 T20 World Cup matches with the only defeat in the 2024 final.

“The senior guys in the team, we lean on them a lot. They help guide you and lead you when you have a few doubts,” said Markram.

“I think because of that and a really strong group of players over the years, we’ve developed that. Fortunately it reflects well, but it’s definitely a reflection on the group as a whole.”

MUMBAI: England will go into their T20 World Cup semi-final against India with no fear, said all-rounder Sam Curran on Tuesday, adding that their first job would be to silence a raucous home crowd.

England will take on the favourites and hosts in front of 35,000 fiercely partisan fans in Mumbai on Thursday, with a place in the final against South Africa or New Zealand at stake.

The noise will be deafening at times in the cauldron-like confines of the Wankhede Stadium.

But Curran said that because he and many of his England teammates – such as Will Jacks at Mumbai Indians – play in the Indian Premier League (IPL), they will not be fazed.

“It’s an experience as a young cricketer you dream of – playing India in the semi-final of a World Cup,” left-arm seamer Curran told reporters.

READ MORE: Brook’s century powers England into T20 WC semis with win over Pakistan

Curran was in the international wilderness a year ago but forced his way back into the England squad with eye-catching performances in T20 franchise leagues, including the IPL.

“India are a quality side but we’ve played a lot of cricket here. We know how to play on these grounds and we know what to expect,” he said.

“The IPL, no question, has helped a lot. Having played in the ground many times, there’s not many unknowns.”

England experienced a hostile crowd at the Wankhede in their first match of the tournament when they beat Nepal in a final-ball thriller.

It was Curran who bowled the nerveless final “death” over, conceding just five runs when Nepal needed 10, to stave off an embarrassing defeat.

He then repeated the feat against Italy and has contributed with the bat from number six, scoring 149 runs so far with a best of 43 not out.

“We’re not fearing anything and I’m sure both teams are really excited by the challenge,” Curran said, adding England could judge how well they were playing by the volume of the fans.

“If the crowd are silent, England are probably going to be doing well. That’s our positive way of looking at it,” said Curran.

It is the third T20 World Cup in a row that England will have played India in the semi-finals and each time the winners went on to lift the trophy.

In 2022, England crushed India by 10 wickets in Adelaide and went on to beat Pakistan in the Melbourne final.

Two years ago India won in Guyana by a similarly dominant 68 runs before downing South Africa in Barbados.

South Africa face New Zealand in the first semi-final on Wednesday. The final will take place on Sunday in Ahmedabad.

“I guess this is what the last four or five weeks have been building for,” said Curran.

“And hopefully we can take one more step towards the final.”

KOLKATA: Underdogs New Zealand back themselves against anyone in “one-off games”, declared captain Mitchell Santner Tuesday on the eve of their T20 World Cup semi-final against South Africa in Kolkata.

Santner admitted that Aiden Markram’s unbeaten South Africa, who comfortably beat New Zealand by seven wickets in the group stage, were “very good”.

New Zealand have lost twice, also falling to England in the Super Eights, and squeaked into the semi-finals on net run-rate ahead of Pakistan.

South Africa, by contrast, enjoyed statement wins over India and the West Indies in the second phase.

“Whether you want to call us the underdogs or not, I think for us it is everyone’s goal throughout the tournament to get to this stage,” Santner told reporters at Eden Gardens.

READ MORE: New Zealand into T20 World Cup semis as Sri Lanka avoid big Pakistan loss

“We are here now and we back ourselves on one-off games against most teams, being able to adapt as quick as we can to what’s in front of us.

“South Africa look like a very good outfit as they have shown.

“I guess they are in the same boat as us now, it is one game and you are into the final,” the left-arm spinner.

New Zealand and South Africa have never won a cricket World Cup in either 50-over or T20 formats.

New Zealand will be playing their fourth semi-final in the last five T20 World Cups. They reached the final in 2021 but lost to Australia.

South Africa reached their maiden final in 2024, losing to India.

“It is probably two teams that have been in and around it for a long time. We know the heartbreak of South Africa two years ago.

“It is whoever turns up on the day tomorrow, whoever sees the conditions the best.”

New Zealand are the only semi-finalist to lose more than once in the tournament and defeated only two Test playing nations on the way to the last four – Afghanistan and co-hosts Sri Lanka.

“We haven’t probably played the perfect game throughout this tournament,” said Santner.

“That’s a good thing for us, if we can put it all together it can put us in a pretty good position.

“I think there is no real hiding or secrets about what South Africa are going to bring.

“We know they are probably going to roll out the same team and a very good team.”

New Zealand fast bowler Matt Henry returned home for the birth of his second child after the defeat to England in Colombo on Friday.

Santner said the bowler would arrive back later Tuesday night.

“He’ll obviously have a little run around in the morning to see if he’s ready to go.”

South Africa have hardly put a foot wrong in their march to the Twenty20 World Cup semi-finals, but complacency can have no place against a New Zealand side famed for punching above their weight when the teams meet at Eden Gardens on Wednesday.

The Proteas are the tournament’s only unbeaten side and look a far more rounded T20 unit than the one that fell at the last hurdle in 2024.

They beat New Zealand in the group stage and have earned the favourites’ tag that rested with defending champions India before the start of the tournament.

India face England in the other semi-final on Thursday.

“I’m glad that we’re favourites, because I’ve always felt that as a South African team you want to be able to play as a favourite,” head coach Shukri Conrad said, suggesting they were enjoying the spotlight.

Since surviving a double Super Over against Afghanistan, Aiden Markram’s side have not taken their foot off the pedal.

In Quinton de Kock, Markram and Ryan Rickelton, they field a top order capable of banking a powerplay head-start, with an explosive middle order offering little respite when the openers do not fire.

South Africa complement it with a varied bowling attack.

Kagiso Rabada’s hard, test-match lengths and Marco Jansen’s left‑arm bounce have cramped batters, while Lungi Ngidi’s change-ups have been a revelation across phases.

Left‑arm spinner Keshav Maharaj provides control if conditions grip, with Markram holding himself back for match‑ups.

Knockout stage challenge

South Africa have looked ominous so far but the knockout stage brings its own challenge. Besides, New Zealand can be a tricky opponent.

New Zealand opener Finn Allen’s ultra aggression is often the powerplay disruptor alongside a rotating partner - Devon Conway or Tim Seifert.

All-rounder Rachin Ravindra’s ability to change gears sets a platform for Glenn Phillips and Daryl Mitchell to attack the back end.

‘Bit strange’ not to be in New Zealand change room: England’s Southee

Their pace attack does not have a settled look though.

The Black Caps are likely to miss the services of fast bowler Matt Henry, who is back home on paternity leave. Jacob Duffy or Kyle Jamieson could replace him.

Their spin unit looks well covered however.

Captain Mitchell Santner’s stump‑to‑stump trajectory is a key match‑up against de Kock and Markram, and Ish Sodhi’s leg-spin could trouble South Africa’s right‑hand middle.

“We faced them in Ahmedabad, which I think is a venue that they’ve grown pretty used to given that they’ve spent a fair bit of time there,” New Zealand’s head coach Rob Walter said.

“The semi‑finals will be in a different venue. It will provide a different challenge.”

The West Indies and Zimbabwe teams said on Monday they have delayed their return ​from India after their exit from the ‌Twenty20 World Cup due to international airspace closures amid ongoing conflict in the Middle East.

West Indies failed to ​reach the semi-finals after Sunday’s five-wicket ​loss to hosts India, while Zimbabwe were eliminated ⁠after losing all three of their Super ​Eights matches.

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However, neither team could travel back as ​thousands of flights were cancelled in countries across the Gulf, disrupting some of the world’s busiest transit hubs, as conflict ​escalated between Iran and the US and Israel.

“The ​Zimbabwe men’s team remains safe and well in India… the ‌squad ⁠was scheduled to return home via Dubai,” Zimbabwe Cricket said in a social media post.

Cricket West Indies (CWI) said they were working with the ​sport’s global ​body (ICC) to ⁠make safe travel arrangements for the players and staff.

The ICC, headquartered in ​Dubai, earlier said that they had activated ​contingency ⁠plans for their personnel, who were scheduled to transit through Dubai for onward travel to their ⁠home countries.

“The ​safety and well-being of ​our players, coaches, and officials remain our highest priority,” CWI added.

Sanju Samson delivered under pressure when it mattered most, coach Gautam Gambhir said, praising the wicket-keeper batter for his pivotal role in securing India’s semi-final spot in the Twenty20 World Cup.

Samson’s unbeaten knock of 97 guided India to a crucial chase of 196 against the West Indies, sealing victory with four balls to spare in a must-win game on Sunday.

“He’s a world-class player, we all know how good a player Sanju is,” Gambhir told reporters after the game.

“It was all about backing him.

When the team needed him the most - obviously today was the day - he showed his full potential.“

Following early dismissals of Abhishek Sharma and Ishan Kishan, Samson steadied India’s innings against the Caribbean attack.

He registered the highest individual score by an Indian in a T20 World Cup chase, surpassing Virat Kohli’s knocks of 82 against Australia and Pakistan.

“I actually felt that he never accelerated the innings. It was just very normal cricketing shots and I never saw him muscling the ball as well.

That is the kind of talent he has,“ Gambhir said. Samson’s form had been in question after struggles earlier this year, including a poor outing in January’s five-match T20 international series against New Zealand where he scored only 46 runs including a golden duck.

“He had a tough series against New Zealand, so sometimes it’s important to give him a break as well, because you want to get the guy off that pressure situation as well,” the 44-year-old coach said.

“We always knew that whenever we needed him in the World Cup game, he’ll come and deliver it for us.”

Gambhir highlighted the team’s philosophy of valuing collective efforts over big individual performances. He credited Shivam Dube’s late cameo, including two crucial boundaries, as well as Tilak Varma’s flexibility in batting positions.

“For too many years, we’ve only spoken about certain contributions. This is a team sport. And this will always remain a team sport,” Gambhir said.

“Those two boundaries are as important as Sanju’s 97. Because had Shivam not been able to hit those two boundaries. You wouldn’t have even spoken about Sanju.”

Defending champions India will play England in the semi-final in Mumbai on Thursday, while South Africa meet New Zealand in the first semi-final a day earlier.

KANDY: Pakistan’s shortcomings were laid bare during their lacklustre T20 World Cup campaign which ended Saturday when the team failed to reach the semi-finals.

From the captain Salman Agha, who was criticised for not being a T20 player, to slow batting rates and the use of all-rounders not up to the job, Pakistan were shown to be behind the times in the rapid-fire format.

Former wicketkeeper-batsman Kamran Akmal believes there is a huge gulf in standard between Pakistan and the top sides such as India, West Indies, South Africa and England.

“Other teams have evolved to the demands of Twenty20 cricket, but neither our team nor our players meet those standards,” Akmal told AFP.

“It is like other teams are playing on the moon and we are on earth. We only beat smaller teams but lose to top teams.”

Pakistan had high hopes for the T20 World Cup after sweeping Australia 3-0 in a pre-tournament series.

READ MORE: New Zealand into T20 World Cup semis as Sri Lanka avoid big Pakistan loss

They boasted a quintet of spinners that should have been suited to the turning pitches in Sri Lanka where they played all their matches.

But they received a rude awakening in their first match against the Netherlands when only they squeezed home by three wickets in the final over thanks to Faheem Ashraf’s 11-ball 29.

‘Failed to handle pressure’

Like most of his predecessors at World Cups, Agha blundered in the pressure-cooker match against India, which only went ahead after the Pakistan government U-turned on a boycott just days before the encounter.

Agha won the toss and asked India to bat. The decision backfired badly as Pakistan conceded 175 and were hammered by 61 runs.

Agha inexplicably held back his mystery spinner and chief weapon Usman Tariq to the 11th over, by which time opener Ishan Kishan had scored his match-shaping 77 and India were well on their way to a winning total.

“How on earth did you bowl at a venue which was suited to batting first,” questioned former Pakistan player Basit Ali.

“After India scored 175 our batters failed to handle the pressure of a chase.”

Agha also held back Tariq’s second over against England, after he took a wicket in his first, allowing captain Harry Brook to build a sparkling match-winning century.

“It was weak captaincy from Agha,” said Akmal, who also took aim at the head coach Mike Hesson and the selectors. 

“We were also not helped by head coach Mike Hesson, who has an obsession for bit-and-pieces all-rounders who were neither complete bowlers, nor good batters.”

Pakistan’s insistence in sticking with the out-of-sorts Babar Azam did nothing to help their shaky batting.

The star batsman’s slow scoring at number four interrupted the side’s rhythm.

He was dropped for the final match against Sri Lanka on Saturday where Pakistan finally posted a total in excess of 200, but it proved too little too late as New Zealand progressed on net run rate.

“We are all fans of Azam but he disappointed us by not adapting to the demands of T20 cricket,” said one Pakistan fan, Saud Baloch, who resigned from his job in the United Arab Emirates to go to the World Cup.

“The whole Pakistan fandom is not only disappointed but angry.

“But we know nothing will change and we will continue to mourn such defeats in future.”

KOLKATA: Sanju Samson’s sparkling unbeaten 97 kept alive India’s dream of retaining the T20 World Cup at home as they knocked out the West Indies with a five-wicket win in Kolkata on Sunday to set up a semi-final against England.

Samson hit 12 fours and four sixes in his superb 50-ball knock in the winner-takes-all final Super Eights match to thrill a capacity 67,000 fans at a pulsating Eden Gardens.

After the West Indies smacked 70 off the last five overs to score 195-4 after being asked to bat, India lost two early wickets but were always up with the required rate.

READ MORE: South Africa beat plucky Zimbabwe ahead of New Zealand semi-final

Samson, opening for the second match in succession, led the way.

When India slipped to 41-2 Samson was joined by captain Suryakumar Yadav (18) and the pair added 58 for the third wicket.

Tilak Varma was next to join Samson and scored 27 off 15 before departing in the 15th over with the score 141-4 and India still needing 55.

Samson stood firm and though Hardik Pandya fell for 17 India reached the target with four balls to spare to spark celebrations and fireworks.

“It means the whole world to me,” Samson said. “Right from the day I started playing, started dreaming to play for the country, I think this is the day I was waiting for.”

Samson said he learned the art of finishing matches “from the greats like Virat Kohli, from Rohit Sharma.”

Jason Holder and Rovman Powell earlier put on an unbroken stand of 76 for the fifth wicket to help the West Indies set the defending champions a target of 196 to stay alive.

The West Indies sprang a surprise at the top of the order, promoting Test captain Roston Chase to open alongside T20 skipper Shai Hope.

That enabled them to bring in an extra spinner, Akeal Hosein, with regular opener Brandon King left out.

In their defeat to South Africa last week the West Indies slumped to 83-7 but the new-look opening partnership was more assured.

Spinner Varun Chakravarthy got the first breakthrough, bowling Hope for a sluggish 32.

Shimron Hetmyer raced to 27 off 12 balls before falling to the faintest of edges off Jasprit Bumrah to make it 102-2.

After Chase fell for 40 and Sherfane Rutherford followed, Powell and Holder launched their brutal late assault.

Powell finished on 34 not out from 19 balls with two sixes and three fours while Holder was unbeaten on 37 off 22 balls with three sixes and two fours.

“Maybe a few short, especially on a chasing ground such as this,” said a disappointed Hope. “Probably could have gone a bit more at the end. Probably could have got more at the start as well.”

It could have been better for India but they dropped three regulation catches in a sloppy fielding display, including Chase when he had made just 15.

South Africa, the only unbeaten side in the tournament, beat Zimbabwe by five wickets earlier on Sunday and will face New Zealand in Kolkata in the first semi-final on Wednesday.

The final is in Ahmedabad next Sunday.

NEW DELHI: South Africa survived a brilliant all-round show by Zimbabwe captain Sikandar Raza to record a five-wicket win Sunday that means they remained unbeaten at the T20 World Cup ahead of a semi-final against New Zealand on Wednesday.

After Zimbabwe scored 153-7 in New Delhi, South Africa survived an early wobble.

Dewald Brevis hit 42 off 18 balls as the 2024 runners-up reached 154-5 in 17.5 overs.

“It’s exciting. Really exciting. A semi-final in Kolkata against New Zealand,” said South Africa captain Aiden Markram.

“The boys will be up for it. It’s still 40 overs of good cricket needed and we need to give it that respect.”

Raza, who was named player of the match, earlier hit 73 and then took 3-29 with his off-spin for Zimbabwe, who had stunned Australia and co-hosts Sri Lanka in the group stage to reach the Super Eights.

READ MORE: New Zealand into T20 World Cup semis as Sri Lanka avoid big Pakistan loss

“My immediate reflection is that I shouldn’t be here. I’ve never got a man of the match for losing the game, but I can hold my head high,” said Raza.

“The way the boys have played the whole tournament, I know we took a bit of beating in the previous two games, but I think with each beating came a valuable lesson. I think we have improved with every game that we have played.”

Raza struck on the third ball of the South African chase to send back Quinton de Kock caught behind for a duck.

Raza bowled Markram for four in the next over.

Ryan Rickelton was hit on the helmet by a bouncer from Brad Evans and took five minutes to recover.

He then lifted Evans for two straight sixes in the next over before the bowler had him caught for 31.

Brevis and David Miller, who hit 22, put on 50 before two more quick strikes from Zimbabwe.

Blessing Muzarabani dismissed Miller and Raza removed Brevis.

Tristan Stubbs (21) and George Linde (30) then put on an unbeaten 53 to steer their side to the target.

After choosing to bat, Zimbabwe lost the in-form opener Brian Bennett, who hit an unbeaten 97 in the defeat by India, for 15.

Raza reached his fifty off 29 balls before falling to left-armer Kwena Maphaka, caught by Miller off a leading edge.

Clive Madande boosted the total with 26 not out off 20 balls at the end.

Maphaka took 2-21 from his four overs and Corbin Bosch 2-40.

KANDY: New Zealand qualified for the T20 World Cup semi-finals after Sri Lanka avoided a big defeat against Pakistan on Saturday in Kandy.

Pakistan, who needed to win by 65 runs in their final Super Eights match to pip New Zealand on net run rate, won by only five after scoring 212-8 with Sri Lanka just falling short on 207-6.

Sahibzada Farhan hit a 60-ball century for Pakistan, his second of the tournament, to take his side to their highest total in any T20 World Cup.

Pakistan needed to keep Sri Lanka down to 147 or fewer, but Pavan Rathnayake hit 58 and captain Dasun Shanaka struck an unbeaten 76 off just 31 balls  to snuff out Pakistan hopes.

After a thrilling chase, Sri Lanka needed six off the last ball but Shanaka failed to connect after hitting three of his eight sixes in the final over.

The result puts New Zealand through to a likely meeting with South Africa in Kolkata on Wednesday for a place in the final.

READ MORE: Pakistan promise final flourish as they await T20 World Cup fate

Spinner Abrar Ahmed was the pick of the Pakistan bowlers with 3-23 in his four overs.

After Pakistan were asked to bat first, Farhan followed his group-stage century against Namibia with another ton to become the first player to score two hundreds in the same T20 World Cup.

Fellow opener Fakhar Zaman cracked 84 off 42 balls.

Farhan scored five sixes and nine fours as he took his aggregate for the tournament to 383 runs, a T20 World Cup record, passing India’s Virat Kohli’s 319 in 2014.

Farhan and Zaman put on an opening stand of 176 in 15.5 overs. Zaman hit four sixes and nine fours. 

Farhan pushed Shanaka for a single to complete his century off 59 balls before being dismissed by Dilshan Madushanka in the final over.

Madushanka was the best Sri Lankan bowler with 3-33.

Pakistan’s previous highest at a T20 World cup was the 201-5 they made against Bangladesh in Kolkata in 2016.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) said on Saturday it was closely monitoring the evolving situation in the Middle East and had activated “comprehensive contingency plans” to safeguard the travel, logistics and well-being of all stakeholders associated with the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, currently underway in India and Sri Lanka.

The development came after Israel and US carried out attacks on Iran, and Tehran launched retaliatory strikes on regional bases.

“While the crisis in the Middle East has no direct bearing on the conduct of the tournament, the ICC acknowledges that a significant number of personnel - including players, team management, match officials, broadcast teams, and event staff - rely on Gulf hub airports, particularly Dubai (DXB), as key transit points for onward travel to their home countries upon concluding their commitments at the event,” the ICC said in a press release.

“The safety and well-being of every individual connected to our event is the ICC’s highest priority. We have already mobilised our travel, logistics and security teams, and are working around the clock to ensure that all stakeholders can return home safely, with minimal disruption. We would also urge fans who have travelled or were planning to travel for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 to monitor closely and adhere to advisories being issued and consider all factors before undertaking any further international travel,” ICC spokesperson was quoted as saying.

Measures currently in place

The ICC Travel and Logistics team was actively working with major international carriers to identify and secure alternative routing options, including connections through European, South Asian and South-East Asian hubs, the council said.

“The ICC security consultants are liaising with relevant authorities and will provide real-time advisories as the situation develops. A dedicated ICC Travel Support Desk has also been activated.

“The ICC will continue to issue updates as the situation evolves and remains committed to the smooth and safe conclusion of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026,” the statement read.

COLOMBOL: Rehan Ahmed and Will Jacks smashed 44 off 16 balls to take England to a thrilling four-wicket T20 World Cup win over New Zealand in Colombo that kept Pakistan’s slender semi-final hopes alive.

New Zealand, who scored 159-6 after opting to bat, would have joined England in the knockouts with a win in their final Super Eights match and eliminated Pakistan.

England lost wickets early and were being squeezed out by the New Zealand spinners at 117-6, needing 43 from the last three overs.

But Ahmed and Jacks took 22 off the 18th over from Glenn Phillips to turn the match on its head.

Ahmed blasted 19 off seven balls in his first T20 World Cup match and his six off the final ball of the 19th over left England needing just five for victory off the last.

Jacks made an unbeaten 32 off 18 as the pair saw England to 161-6 with three balls to spare.

Jacks, who also took 2-23 to be England’s leading bowler, was named player of the match for an incredible fourth time in seven T20 World Cup outings this campaign.

READ MORE: Brook’s century powers England into T20 WC semis with win over Pakistan

“I reckon this is the best,” said Jacks of his growing collection of player of the match awards.

“I’m absolutely buzzing with that, to be not out at the end in a tight finish.

“When I went out there, it was on a bit of a knife-edge, and I’m over the moon.”

New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner paid tribute to Ahmed and Jacks.

“Rehan showed his class with the bat in the last couple of years and is obviously a very good player of spin,” said Santner.

“So he wasn’t really fazed on that wicket. The way Willy J and Rehan put those finishing touches was a good bit of batting.”

Mumbai semi for England

England will move on to a semi-final almost certainly in Mumbai against either India or the West Indies, who meet on Sunday in a winner-takes-all clash to decide the last semi-final berth.

“We’re not bothered (who we play),” said England captain Harry Brook, whose side played two group matches in Mumbai, beating Nepal but losing to the West Indies.

“Whoever we’re facing, they’re going to be a tough opponent anyway. We’ve already played against the West Indies, so a little bit of experience there.

“It’s nice to go back to a ground that we’ve already played on as well.”

New Zealand now have to sweat on the outcome of Saturday’s clash between Sri Lanka and Pakistan in Kandy which will decide the second semi-finalist alongside England, who have topped the Super Eights group.

Pakistan have an inferior run rate to New Zealand so will need to win by 65 runs or inside 13 overs, if chasing, to deny the Kiwis.

“Tomorrow’s game is out of our control. We just have to wait and see whether we are getting on a plane to India or to New Zealand,” said Santner.

“It would have made things a lot easier had we won. We will be watching nervously tomorrow to see what happens. Cricket is a funny game.”

England used five spinners to bowl 16 of the 20 overs on a turning track. The 2010 and 2022 champions had never bowled so many overs of spin before in a T20 international.

Adil Rashid picked up 2-28 and is now England’s leading wicket-taker in the tournament with 11.

Rashid was complemented by fellow wrist spinner Ahmed, who was called up in place of Jamie Overton, and took a wicket with his first ball before finishing with 2-28 from three overs.

Glenn Phillips top scored with 39 off 28 including four fours and a six while opener Tim Seifert scored 35.

Liam Dawson (1-32) and Jacob Bethell (0-13) were the other spinners employed by England.

PALLEKELE, SRI LANKA: Fast bowler Salman Mirza vowed on Friday that Pakistan will finish the Super Eights with a flourish against already-eliminated Sri Lanka, whether or not they still have hopes of reaching the semi-finals.

Pakistan need England to beat New Zealand handsomely in Colombo on Friday and then post a big victory of their own against Sri Lanka on Saturday to sneak into the final four on net run rate.

A New Zealand win will end Pakistan’s hopes, rendering the Sri Lanka clash in Kandy meaningless in terms of the tournament.

“It’s a critical situation as reaching the semi-final is not in our control,” Mirza told reporters

“But if we reach the semi-final we have the capability to do better,” Mirza said.

Pakistan’s campaign started on a nervy note with a three-wicket win in a thrilling last-over finish against the Netherlands before overcoming the United States and Namibia.

India thrash Zimbabwe in T20 World Cup, South Africa into semi-finals

In between they lost heavily to India in a highly anticipated clash in Colombo.

Pakistan’s first Super Eight match against New Zealand was washed out in Colombo before they lost to England and Harry Brook’s sparkling century in Kandy on Tuesday.

“We needed to win the match against England and that defeat has given us this position,” said Mirza.

After Brook was dismissed near the end of England’s run chase, Pakistan hit back with two wickets in the penultimate over.

Mirza bowled the final over with three runs to defend and two wickets to take for victory but Jofra Archer hit the first ball for four.

“I had the opportunity to become a hero in the final over, but I couldn’t grab that one,” said Mirza.

“Such opportunities do not come your way every day. Had I taken two wickets we would have won that match, but it was not to be.”

CHENNAI: India revived their T20 World Cup campaign with their “fearless” brand of cricket ahead of a winner-takes-all decider against the West Indies for the last semi-final berth.

Hot favourites to defend their title on home soil, India thrashed Zimbabwe by 72 runs in Chennai on Thursday to bounce back from their heavy defeat against South Africa in their Super Eights opener.

India’s batting, led by opener Abhishek Sharma’s blistering 55, and an unbeaten 50 by Hardik Pandya, piled up 256-4, the second-highest total in the history of the tournament.

In a brutal show of power hitting, the Indian batters demolished the opposition bowling with 17 sixes and 17 fours at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium.

India face the West Indies, who went down to South Africa by nine wickets, in Kolkata on Sunday to decide the second semi-finalist from Group 1.

“We want to play the fearless cricket, the brand of cricket we played today and we played since last year,” batter Tilak Varma said.

“The same intent we want to keep in the next game as well. And going ahead in the tournament, we take the same intensity (forward).”

India thrash Zimbabwe in T20 World Cup, South Africa into semi-finals

The left-handed Varma hit a 19-ball 44 as he put together an unbeaten 84-run stand with Pandya, who capped off the innings with two sixes to raise his fifty.

It all came together for India after they rejigged their opening combination with the return of Sanju Samson, who handed the team a quick start with his 24 off 15 balls.

The left-handed Abhishek hit form with his first T20 World Cup fifty after he struggled in the tournament with three ducks in four innings.

“It’s important when the openers give us a good start, the same confidence follows to number three, four and five,” said Varma.

“And we discussed that whatever the situation is, (even) if we lose three-four wickets in powerplay, we will bat with the same rhythm,” he added.

“And we want to show the fear in opposition bowlers, that these guys are ready to hit each and every ball.”

‘Keep that intensity’

India, the world’s top-ranked T20 team, came into the World Cup on the back of huge totals in bilateral contests, and were tipped to cross the 300-run mark at the tournament.

But their batting had looked fragile and was often exposed, including by minnows the United States, who reduced them to 77-6 in their opener.

Varma remains cautious of his team’s plans against the West Indies, who posted 254-6 against Zimbabwe in their Super Eights opener.

“So if the wicket is not good, then we’ll adjust, and we’ll keep that intensity on,” said Varma.

“I would not say we want to score more than 250 – but if we get a good start, then of course we’ll go for it.”

The Indian bowling has looked good.

On Thursday, left-arm quick Arshdeep Singh returned figures of 3-24 to limit Zimbabwe to 184-6.

He surpassed senior paceman Jasprit Bumrah as the leading bowler for India at the T20 World Cup with 35 wickets to Bumrah’s 33.

“We knew we just have to come and follow our processes, and the result will come our way. So the thought was very simple and we are enjoying it.”

The 2024 champions have the weight of history against them. No team has ever retained the T20 World Cup and no side have ever won the trophy on home soil.

COLOMBO: England bowling consultant Tim Southee admitted Thursday it will be “a little bit strange” to be in the opposing change room to New Zealand at the T20 World Cup.

The winner of the England-New Zealand clash at Colombo’s R. Premadasa Stadium on Friday will secure top spot in Super Eights Group 2.

England have secured a semi-final place, whereas New Zealand need a win to be sure of a place in the final four.

A defeat will leave them having to rely on Pakistan failing to beat the already eliminated Sri Lanka by a big margin on Saturday.

Southee played 394 times in all formats for New Zealand and took 391 wickets in 107 Tests.

READ MORE: ‘Street-smart’ New Zealand can topple England to make T20 semis: coach

“It is a little bit strange seeing the guys around the hotel and obviously with that series in New Zealand end of last year,” Southee said.

“It’s a great opportunity to work with England.

“I always want New Zealand cricket to do well, always following them closely, but now in the role that I’m in, things are slightly different.

“I’m looking forward to going out there against a good side and some good mates as well.”

Southee said he has enjoyed working with Jofra Archer, who has grown into the tournament.

The express paceman conceded 98 runs in his eight overs in the first two group matches.

But he took 3-20 against Sri Lanka and 2-32 against Pakistan in England’s two Super Eight games, regularly sending down deliveries around 150 kph (93 mph).

“The good sign is that we’ve seen over the last few games he looks like he’s getting better and better so that bodes well for the next few games,” Southee said.

“He’s obviously a class bowler. He can bowl fast, move the ball and he has an unbelievable amount of skill.

“It’s been brilliant to see how he goes about his stuff. He absolutely loves cricket, loves bowling, so it’s been great to work alongside such a great bowler.”

CHENNAI: Defending champions India thrashed Zimbabwe by 72 runs in their Super Eights T20 World Cup match on Thursday, a result that guaranteed South Africa a place in the semi-finals.

India posted a mammoth 256-4 and then restricted Zimbabwe to 184-6 in Chennai to make their clash with West Indies in Kolkata on Sunday a winner-takes-all decider for the last semi-final berth.

South Africa hammered the West Indies by nine wickets earlier in Ahmedabad.

At Chennai’s M.A. Chidambaram stadium, opener Abhishek Sharma blasted 55 and Hardik Pandya an unbeaten 50 as India piled up the second highest total in the history of the tournament after being invited to bat first.

“I think we wanted to leave everything behind. We didn’t think too much about what we did in the league stage or in the last game in Ahmedabad,” said India captain Suryakumar Yadav.

“With contributions from the top order right down to number seven, I think there was hardly anything missing in our performance.

He said they had not thought about what is now a knockout match against the West Indies on Sunday.

“Once we reach Kolkata, we’ll sit down and plan properly for that game,” Suryakumar said.

READ MORE: Calls for heads to roll after feeble Sri Lanka T20 World Cup exit

“For now, it’s about taking a day off, travelling, and relaxing.”

Zimbabwe, who stunned Australia and Sri Lanka to reach the Super Eights, were never in the chase despite a brisk start as the asking rate kept rising.

Opener Brian Bennett was not out 97, the highest individual score by a Zimbabwean in T20 World Cup history, as his side exited the semi-final reckoning with a game still to play.

India’s left-arm quick Arshdeep Singh took 3-24 from his four overs.

‘Willing to improve’

“We are also a work in progress,” said Zimbabwe captain Sikandar Raza.

“We have a lot of youngsters, most of them are playing their first World Cup, first time ever in India for us.

“Not that I want to use that as an excuse, but certainly the lessons from the last game, from a batting point of view, I thought we took them really well.

“And you can see how quickly these boys are willing to improve and they showed up today.”

Zimbabwe’s bowlers conceded 510 runs in 40 overs in two Super Eights matches after West Indies posted 254-6 against the tournament’s surprise packages on Monday.

Raza won the toss and opted to field for the second match running, and again saw his bowlers flogged to all parts.

Left-handed Abhishek, who had struggled with three ducks in four innings in this tournament, hit four fours and four sixes to return to form.

Pandya and left-handed Tilak Varma, who hit a 16-ball 44, put on an unbeaten stand of 84 at the end, but India came up just short of the T20 World Cup record score of 260-6 made by Sri Lanka against Kenya in 2007.

Wicketkeeper-batsman Sanju Samson returned to the team to break the left-handed opening combination of Abhishek and Ishan Kishan and handed India a flying start.

Samson fell for 24 off Blessing Muzarabani but Abhishek kept up the charge, reaching his fifty off 26 balls in a 72-run stand with Kishan (38).

Abhishek fell to Tinotenda Maposa, caught at long-on, but his knock laid the platform for a big total. Skipper Suryakumar hit 33 off 13 balls.

Pandya finished with a flourish with two sixes off Brad Evans to get to 50 on the final ball of the innings.

COLOMBO: Pressure is mounting on Sri Lanka’s captain, coach and the selection panel to step down after the co-hosts’ feeble exit from the T20 World Cup with a match to spare.

A second Super Eights defeat, where Sri Lanka never threatened to get near their 169 target against New Zealand ended their hopes of reaching the semi-finals.

It also provoked unprecedented booing from the 35,000-strong crowd in Colombo and calls for heads to roll.

The group win over Australia had hopes high for a run to at least the semi-finals, but it is now a distant memory after Sri Lanka’s batting was exposed time and again on turning pitches.

Sri Lanka head coach Sanath Jayasuriya had already informed the board that he would step down after the World Cup.

Now captain Dasun Shanaka and the selectors seem likely to follow or be axed after an embarrassing campaign.

READ MORE: New Zealand knock sorry Sri Lanka out of T20 World Cup

“We have one more game in the competition and we will address what went wrong during the World Cup after that game and take the necessary steps,” a Sri Lanka Cricket spokesperson told AFP.

Former captain Marvan Atapattu was scathing about Sri Lanka’s preparations.

“Most teams have moved on with the times playing T20 cricket, but we have stagnated and made little progress,”  Atapattu told AFP.

“You need to identify your core players and stick with them.

“In Sri Lanka’s case, they had no idea what their team was going to be even a week before the tournament.

“It doesn’t work that way in international sport.”

Sri Lanka lost three front-line bowlers to injury in the first week of the tournament, with fingers being pointed at the amount of lucrative franchise cricket being played.

“When your players are involved in league cricket all over the world, there is a good chance that they break down just before a crucial campaign and that’s what happened to Sri Lanka,” Atapattu added.

COLOMBO: New Zealand’s “street-smart” cricketers can find a way to beat England and guarantee their semi-final place at the T20 World Cup, coach Rob Walters said on Thursday.

A win for New Zealand in Friday’s night’s Super Eights clash in Colombo will see them top Group 2 and join the already-qualified England in the final four.

A defeat would leave the door ajar for Pakistan to beat eliminated Sri Lanka on Saturday with the second semi-final berth then being decided on net run rate.

Mitchell Santner’s New Zealand were in trouble at 84-6 against Sri Lanka on Wednesday before the captain steered them to 168-7 and a thumping 61-run win which knocked out the co-hosts.

“I think if you look historically at the Black Caps, you would probably say that they’re a team that have been great problem solvers,” Walters told reporters.

READ MORE: New Zealand knock sorry Sri Lanka out of T20 World Cup

“They are street smart, they find a way to understand the conditions quickly.

“It’s certainly something that we pride ourselves on. We can adapt to conditions quickly and find a method.”

England are the only team to secure a place in the semi-finals so far after skipper Harry Brook’s match-winning century against Pakistan.

New Zealand all-rounder Rachin Ravindra is aware of England’s threat.

“You’re always confident going into these fixtures, especially when we know what the surface is going to be like,” said Ravindra, who took four wickets against Sri Lanka.

“But I think it’d be silly to underestimate England at any point.

“They’re obviously such a quality unit and they’ve shown this in how well they’ve been bowling.

“They’ve got world-class batters throughout their order.”

South Africa are on the verge of securing their place in the semi-finals of the Twenty20 World Cup after captain Aiden Markram’s unbeaten knock of 82 led them to a commanding nine-wicket win over West Indies on Thursday.

Markram and Quinton de Kock’s 95-run opening partnership helped South Africa chase down a target of 177 with 23 balls to spare, going to the top of Group One in the Super Eights with four points, having also beaten defending champions India on Sunday.

West Indies, who beat Zimbabwe in their previous game, will face India on Sunday in a battle to reach the semi-finals, after the tournament hosts take on Zimbabwe later on Thursday.

“Whether I’m captain or not, opening is a responsibility… we try to make sure the team gets off to a good start especially on wickets like this and hope to continue this,” Markram said.

Put in to bat first in Ahmedabad, West Indies were struggling at 43-4 in four overs, as Kagiso Rabada (2-22) dismissed Shai Hope (16) and Shimron Hetmyer (2) before Lungi Ngidi got Brandon King (21 off 11 balls) caught by keeper De Kock and Roston Chase nicked it onto his own leg stump.

Ngidi (3-30) also dismissed Rovman Powell, and in the 11th over Matthew Forde was caught trying to hit Corbin Bosch (2-31) down deep backward square, with the two-time champions looking close to a collapse at 83-7.

New Zealand knock sorry Sri Lanka out of T20 World Cup

But Jason Holder (49) partnered with Romario Shepherd, adding 89 runs for the eighth wicket to give West Indies a fighting chance. Unbeaten Shepherd scored 52 from 37 balls, helping West Indies post 176-8.

Markram and de Kock set up victory

South Africa began their chase with Markram hitting Matthew Forde towards point for four, and De Kock hit Shamar Joseph for two sixes in the sixth over to end the powerplay at 69-0.

De Kock (47 off 24 balls) fell to Roston Chase in the eighth over, but it did nothing to slow down South Africa. Markram completed his half-century in 27 balls, and Ryan Rickelton hit Chase for three sixes within four balls to get his team to 155-1 in 14 overs.

Markram, who hit four sixes and seven fours to score 82 from 46 balls, ended his player-of-the-match innings as he began, with a boundary to bring up the winning runs, as South Africa reached 177-1 in 16.1 overs.

“Everything will not be easy. The way we play our cricket, there will be a loss, the aim was to get it out early. Next game will be a quarter-final,” West Indies captain Shai Hope said, referring to their make-or-break clash with India.

COLOMBO: Sri Lanka captain Dasun Shanaka said the relentless criticism aimed at his players has been damaging to their mental health and undermined their efforts at the Twenty20 World Cup, where they were eliminated from the group stage on Wednesday.

The tournament co-hosts drew heavy flak from fans and pundits for their shaky buildup to the World Cup, which included losing five of six limited-overs matches to England.

The 2014 champions suffered a second successive Super Eights defeat on Wednesday, with New Zealand scoring a comprehensive victory to knock them out of the tournament.

Shanaka apologised to fans after their “embarrassing” performance but also felt an atmosphere of negativity had reached an extent where the authorities must intervene.

“No matter how we as cricketers try to stay positive, there is negativity outside,” Shanaka told reporters after their defeat in Colombo.

“We will play and leave, but for the players who will come in the future, if the government can even stop it, that’s better for their mental health.”

Chasing 169 for victory, Sri Lanka were 46-5 in the 11th over and never looked like recovering.

Hungry South Africa ‘want more’ after statement T20 win over India

“Honestly, we are very sorry for what happened. No one goes out there to fail, everyone goes with the intention of playing well and winning for the team,” said Shanaka.

Losing the services of three key bowlers - Wanindu Hasaranga, Matheesha Pathirana and Ehsan Malinga - through injuries was a major setback.

“You’ve also got to make fitness a non-negotiable,” he said.

“When you have the number of injuries we’ve had, it’s hard to get a good outcome.

“Your fitness level influences your injuries. There are some players who can’t even get into the team because of fitness issues. That’s something we’ve talked about a lot over several World Cups now,” he added.

Former captain Kumar Sangakkara said Sri Lanka were in danger of becoming irrelevant in the cricket world.

“There is a lot of work to be done at all levels to course correct,” he wrote on X.

“We can’t do the same things over and over and expect different results when the cricket world around us has evolved so quickly. We haven’t adapted and the danger is irrelevance.”

COLOMBO: New Zealand knocked co-hosts Sri Lanka out of the T20 World Cup on Wednesday with a 61-run win in Colombo that boosted their semi-final hopes.

Sri Lanka needed an emphatic win to stay alive but instead exited with a whimper, limping to 107-8 chasing New Zealand’s 168-7.

A win for New Zealand against England on Friday at the same R. Premadasa stadium would see them top the Super Eights group and qualify for the semi-finals along with Harry Brook’s side.

A defeat would open the door for Pakistan, who would probably need a big win against Sri Lanka in Kandy on Saturday to sneak through on net run rate.

Sri Lanka were never in the chase as Matt Henry dismissed their leading batsman Pathum Nissanka with the first ball of the innings.

Henry also removed Chairth Asalanka with the first ball of his second over to leave Sri Lanka in trouble at 6-2.

Sri Lanka crawled to 20-2 at the end of the six-over power play, the lowest in the competition and Sri Lanka’s second lowest ever in T20 internationals.

READ MORE: Hungry South Africa ‘want more’ after statement T20 win over India

Part-time spinner Rachin Ravindra found turn to put the game beyond Sri Lanka with a career-best 4-27.

Ravindra had a charging Kusal Mendis stumped and then removed Pavan Rathnayake in similar fashion in the same over as the sellout crowd was stunned into silence.

“It is very embarrassing to disappoint the home crowd,” said Sri Lanka captain Dasun Shanaka.

“We started really well, but to be honest, the Santner-McConchie and that partnership, it was a good one, which took the game away from us.”

New Zealand earlier recovered from a mini-collapse to reach 168-7.

“I think it was obviously a nice score there with the amount of spin on the ball. They squeezed us a lot,” said New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner.

Sri Lanka were right in the game as New Zealand slumped from 84-3 to 84-6 in the space of six deliveries.

But an 84-run stand off just 47 deliveries for the seventh wicket between Cole McConchie and Santner enabled them to set a tricky target on a turning pitch.

Skipper Santner top scored with 47 off 26 balls with two fours and four sixes.

McConchie, recalled to the side, posted an unbeaten 31 off 23 balls

New Zealand were struggling to read Maheesh Theekshana as the spinner claimed 3-9 in his first three overs.

New Zealand blasted 70 off the last four overs, including 21 off the final one from Theekshana. 

Pace bowler Dushmantha Chameera finished with 3-38.

Unbeaten West Indies are being underestimated despite their flawless record so far in the Twenty20 World Cup,  batting coach Floyd Reifer said ahead of their Super Eight clash against South Africa on Thursday when they hope to boost their chances of reaching the semi-finals.

“There’s no point to prove for us and we came here like any other team to win the competition,” Reifer told reporters on Wednesday.

“A lot of people have us flying under the radar but we plan every game to go in there with a positive mentality to win cricket games.”

West Indies are chasing World Cup glory for the first time in a decade, having last triumphed in 2016, and Reifer credits their success to squad depth rather than star power.

“We have quality batters and we’re not like the other teams - depending on one or two batters. Everybody has stepped up every game and put in performances and we’ve been consistent in doing that,” he said.

READ MORE: West Indies thrash Zimbabwe at T20 World Cup after piling up 254-6

South African spinner Keshav Maharaj believes his side, finalists in the last edition, have finally developed the character to overcome the shortcomings that have historically derailed their World Cup campaigns.

“In previous World Cups, we never crossed over those small moments… If the character is strong in winning those small moments, it propels us to go further on in this tournament,” Maharaj said. Despite the energy buzzing through the camp after Sunday’s 76-run victory over India, Maharaj warned against complacency against a West Indies side fresh off a mammoth 107-run win over Zimbabwe.

“We’re not getting carried away at that. We still know that there’s a lot of cricket to be played in this tournament,” the 36-year-old said.

South Africa will be playing their fifth match of the tournament in Ahmedabad but Maharaj said that would not give them any advantage and stressed the need for clear execution and adaptation.

“West Indies have a way of turning up in these events and we know the danger they possess from an explosive point of view,” he added.

Regardless of Thursday’s outcome, the group featuring defending champions India, West Indies, Zimbabwe and South Africa will remain wide open, with all four teams having an equal chance of reaching the semi-finals.

India wicketkeeper-batter Sanju Samson will be under consideration for Thursday’s Twenty20 World Cup game against Zimbabwe as the team look to reshuffle their side, batting coach Sitanshu Kotak said ahead of the must-win match.

Kotak admitted India had played their “worst game in two years” in the 76-run loss to South Africa on Sunday but stressed the need to focus on combinations who could yield the best results rather than dwelling on pressure.

“There can be changes, yes. And obviously, it goes without saying that we discussed, because there are two lefty openers, number three is left-handed and opposition’s bowling off-spin,” Kotak told reporters on Wednesday.

“Because in the three games, we lost a wicket in the first over, obviously any team would think. So we are thinking and we will see how it goes because we never decide the team too early.

“Definitely there will be thought about playing him (Samson), there is no doubt. But nets don’t give any indication.”

READ MORE: Hungry South Africa ‘want more’ after statement T20 win over India

Despite the setback, Kotak said India, who need to win their remaining two matches in the Super Eight to stay in the hunt for a semi-final place,  would stick to their aggressive approach.

“We have to be very positive and play the same brand of cricket which has given us the success and clearly that is the way we will play, there will not be any difference,” he said.

Samson could provide a spark to India’s opening partnership, with Abhishek Sharma struggling for form after recording three ducks from four appearances.

However, Kotak backed the under-fire opener, attributing his poor run to health issues.

“His health was a bit bad. And then after that, he didn’t have that much momentum. But last game, he looked good,” Kotak said.

“So our job is to keep him in a good frame of mind and once he starts hitting the ball again, you will see the same Abhishek again, there is no doubt.”

India will be boosted by the return of finisher Rinku Singh, who flew home due to a family emergency.

“Rinku, his father wasn’t well so he went back and I think he is coming back today evening. So, hopefully he will be back today evening,” Kotak said.

PALLEKELE: Harry Brook smashed a match-winning hundred in Tuesday’s Super Eight match against Pakistan after being moved up the order to number three but the England captain is unsure if he will stay in the new slot for the rest of the Twenty20 World Cup.

Brook struck a two-run-a-ball hundred as England accomplished a tricky chase to be the first team to book their spot in the last four of the 20-team tournament.

Chasing 165 for victory, England lost both their openers inside three overs and slumped to 58-4 in the eighth, but Brook’s maiden century in T20 Internationals set up their two-wicket victory.

Brook said it was head coach Brendon ‘Baz’ McCullum’s idea to promote him from his usual number five slot.

“Baz is the mastermind there,” he told reporters. “He had a discussion with me this morning about going up the order and trying to maximise the powerplay and thankfully it paid off.” Despite the spectacular success of the move, Brook was unsure if he would continue at number three.

Brook’s century powers England into T20 WC semis with win over Pakistan

“I don’t know. That’s something for me and Baz to chat about,” he said. “The longer I bat, the better it is for me. It’s a lot easier facing their best bowlers through the middle period when you’re already set.”

England’s white-ball captain has endured a torrid time since news emerged of his altercation with a nightclub bouncer in New Zealand late last year, making Tuesday’s knock especially sweet.

“It’s probably been the hardest winter of my life, to be honest,” the 27-year-old said.

“There’s been a lot of stuff behind the scenes as well as not behind the scenes, but yes, it’s just nice to see some rewards from my hard work away from the ground.” Shaheen Afridi shook Brook’s hand after dismissing him and the Pakistan speedster said the batter had played “proper cricketing shots” throughout his 100 off 51 balls.

“I think this is the best innings of his life,” Afridi said.

“The wicket was not easy. If we look at other batsmen, they were all struggling.”

COLOMBO: Co-hosts Sri Lanka can win both their remaining Super Eight matches to rescue their faltering T20 World Cup campaign, starting with New Zealand, said spinner Dunith Wellalage on Tuesday.

They must beat New Zealand in the Super Eights clash in Colombo on Wednesday or they will be out before their final match against Pakistan.

Sri Lanka were left on the brink after being blasted out for 95 against England to lose by 51 runs a day after New Zealand and Pakistan took a point each from a washout.

“We have got to now win both these games,” left-arm spinner Wellalage told reporters.

“We know how important a home World Cup is. The fans have turned up in numbers and we have always believed that we can make it to the semi-finals.

“The last two games haven’t gone to our plan but we are looking forward to the must-win clash tomorrow.”

The 23-year-old Wellalage has stood up for Sri Lanka in the absence of senior bowlers Matheesha Pathirana, Wanindu Hasaranga and Eshan Malinga because of injury.

READ MORE: England rout Sri Lanka for 95 to win Super Eights opener

Wellalage bowled in the power play against England and finished with three wickets including captain Harry Brook.

“It was a challenge bowling during the power plays and the key was for me to deny the batsmen boundaries,” he said.

“I had to be clever with my lengths and when I did that the batters had to take a few chances. I relished the new challenge.”

Sri Lanka have struggled in global tournaments since winning the T20 World Cup in 2014.

They hosted New Zealand in late 2024 winning Test and ODI series and drawing a T20 series 1-1.a

“We have played New Zealand a lot in recent years and we know that we can beat them in these conditions.

“We are still in with a chance to make it to the semis and winning tomorrow will be important.”

COLOMBO: New Zealand skipper Mitchell Santner said on Tuesday adapting to slow-turning pitches in Colombo would be key for their crucial T20 World Cup clash against co-hosts Sri Lanka.

The Black Caps need a win in their second Super Eights match in Group 2 on Wednesday at the R. Premadasa Stadium after their first match against Pakistan was washed out at the same venue.

Santner’s team have been in the Sri Lankan capital for a week after finishing their group stage in India.

“I guess that’s the challenge when you play a tournament in two countries – we played in Chennai and Ahmedabad on flat pitches and here we have to play a bit differently,” Santner told reporters.

“But I think you pick a squad of 15, knowing that you could potentially be in both countries on slightly slower wickets, on some flat ones as well.”

READ MORE: West Indies thrash Zimbabwe at T20 World Cup after piling up 254-6

Santner, a left-arm spinner, said, “So I think we have the spin kind of options covered as well, which is nice, but it’s just going out there and adjusting as fast as you can.”

Sri Lanka come into the contest in a must-win situation after they suffered a huge loss to England in their Super Eights opener in Kandy.

But Santner said Sri Lanka are always a tough nut to crack in their own den.

“Sri Lanka are a very strong side at home and they dominate conditions here,” said Santner.

“They are missing a couple of players but there’s quality in that line-up. We are lucky that we have played them a lot in recent years and there are no secrets.”

New Zealand have one point from the rained-off match, while Sri Lanka stay bottom among four teams in the Super Eights group.

A defeat for New Zealand will dent their chances of making the semi-finals.

“Any game in the Super Eight is sort of knock out,” said Santner. “We know that it is the same for Sri Lanka. We want to put out a good show tomorrow and walk out with a win.”

Harry Brook’s scintillating century carried England into the semifinals of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup as they edged Pakistan by two wickets in a thrilling Super Eights clash at Pallekele on Tuesday.

Chasing 165, England reached 166-8 in 19.1 overs, sealing victory with five balls to spare and confirming their place in the last four.

England’s innings began in turmoil as Shaheen Shah Afridi struck twice in his opening spell, dismissing Phil Salt for a duck and Jos Buttler for two.

He later removed Jacob Bethell and finished with outstanding figures of 4-30, leaving England struggling at 35-3 inside five over.

READ MORE: Santer’s New Zealand ready for Sri Lanka’s spin challenge

Brook, however, turned the tide with a magnificent 100 off 51 balls, smashing 10 fours and four sixes at a strike rate of 196.07. He anchored the chase and counterattacked under pressure, keeping England ahead of the required rate.

Pakistan fought back through Usman Tariq and Mohammad Nawaz, who picked up two wickets each. When Brook fell at 155-6 in the 17th over, the match hung in the balance.

But England held their nerve in the closing stages. Jofra Archer struck a boundary in the penultimate over, while Liam Dawson stayed unbeaten to guide the side home.

Earlier, Pakistan had posted 164-9 after opting to bat.

Sahibzada Farhan top-scored with 63 off 45 balls, hitting seven fours and two sixes.

Babar Azam made 25, while Fakhar Zaman (25 off 16) and Shadab Khan (23 off 11) provided momentum in the middle and death overs.

However, Pakistan lost wickets constantly in death overs, falling short of what proved a slightly below-par total.

For England, Liam Dawson returned 3-24, while Jofra Archer and Jamie Overton claimed two wickets each to keep Pakistan in check.

The result sends England into the semifinals, while Pakistan’s campaign faces uncertainty after the narrow defeat.

The Greenshirts now need a big win over Sri Lanka on Sunday and favourable results in other matches to stay in contention.

PALLEKELE: Pakistan on Monday warned England’s inconsistent batting line-up to expect a trial by spin when the teams clash in the T20 World Cup Super Eights.

Pakistan batsman Sahibzada Farhan told reporters that England struggled to 146-9 against Sri Lanka’s spinners on Sunday.

Farhan said that England can expect more of the same from Pakistan’s spinners when they meet on the same Pallekele ground in Kandy on Tuesday night.

Pakistan desperately need a win after their first match against New Zealand was washed out.

A defeat would put England, who skittled Sri Lanka for 95 to win by 51 runs, through to the semi-finals with a game to spare.

Pakistan would then need to beat Sri Lanka in their final Super Eights match and hope other results go their way to reach the last four.

“What we saw in the Sri Lanka-England game was that the ball was gripping and England struggled against spin,” said the in-form opener Farhan on Monday.

READ MORE: T20 World Cup: India secure dominant victory as Pakistan’s batting line-up collapses

“Sri Lanka have one or two spinners but we have five in all so we will give England a tough time on a pitch that looks good and will grip,” said Farhan.

Pakistan’s spinners have taken 26 wickets in the four matches so far. Their seamers have dismissed only seven batsmen.

History will be against Pakistan as they have never beaten England in three previous Twenty20 World Cup clashes.

“We are confident and our morale is high,” said Farhan, who scored an unbeaten 100 against Namibia in Pakistan’s final group match.

“We are focused on this match to win and progress.”

Farhan, who tops the T20 World Cup run-scoring chart with 220, said he was ready for the threat of England’s express pace bowler Jofra Archer.

“Facing Archer will not be difficult because I have faced similar bowlers in Pakistan,” said Farhan.

“So if he has plans against me, I also have plans against him.”

Pakistan are likely to bring in spinner Abrar Ahmed in place of seaming all-rounder Faheem Ashraf.

England may name an unchanged side for the fifth match in succession with Liam Dawson, Will Jacks, Adil Rashid and Jacob Bethell providing their spin options.

Sri Lanka and New Zealand are the two other teams in Pakistan and England’s Super Eights group. They face each other in Colombo on Wednesday.

The top two teams will qualify for the semi-finals.

MUMBAI: The West Indies blew away T20 World Cup surprise packages Zimbabwe by a colossal 107 runs in Mumbai on Monday as Shai Hope’s team opened their Super Eights campaign with a dominant victory.

Shimron Hetmyer blasted 85 off 34 balls as the West Indies piled up 254-6, the second highest total in the history of the tournament.

Zimbabwe, who stunned Australia and Sri Lanka to reach the Super Eights, got off to an awful start chasing a monumental 255.

They were reduced to 20-3 in the third over when two wickets fell to Akeal Hosein’s left-arm spin and never threatened to get close.

They were all out for 147 in 17.4 overs with Brad Evans hitting some lusty late blows before being last man out for 43 off 21 balls with five sixes.

Left-armer Gudakesh Motie was the pick of the West Indies bowlers with 4-28 as he found some sharp turn. Hosein took 3-28.

Zimbabwe captain Sikandar Raza won the toss and opted to bowl, then saw his bowlers flogged to all parts of the Wankhede stadium.

READ MORE: South Africa thrash India to end 12-match T20 World Cup win streak

Only Sri Lanka, who made 260-6 against Kenya in 2007, have scored more in a T20 World Cup match.

Coming in at 17-1, the left-handed Hetmyer was given a life Zimbabwe would come to regret.

A routine catch at deep fine leg was spilled by Tashinga Musekiwa when the batsman was on nine.

Hetmyer took full advantage, racing to his fifty off 19 balls, equalling South Africa’s Aiden Markram for the fastest half-century of the tournament so far.

Hetmyer and Rovman Powell, who came in at 54-2, completed their century stand in 45 balls.

They had added 122 off 52 balls when Hetmyer became the third wicket to go down with 176 on the board in the 15th over.

Hetmyer, having been dropped for a second time on 70 by the hapless Musekiwa, this time was held in the deep by Brian Bennett having smashed seven sixes and seven fours.

Powell was out soon after for 59, off 35 balls, with four sixes.

Sherfane Rutherford took up the mantle and guided his side past 200 and then 250 as he scored 31 not out off 13 balls with two sixes.

Romario Shepherd joined in the fun by smacking 21 and Jason Holder took 13 off three balls as 38 runs were bludgeoned off the final two overs.

World champions South Africa have confirmed home test series against England, Australia and Bangladesh in their 2026/27 summer season, but a proposed Twenty20 series against the English has been postponed.

Australia will visit South Africa for three tests starting on October 9 in Durban, their first five-day cricket in the country since the infamous 2018 series when then captain Steve Smith admitted the side had used sandpaper to tamper with the ball.

They will also play tests in Gqeberha and Cape Town.

That will follow a three-match One-Day International (ODI) series between the sides.

South Africa select five uncapped players for T20 tour to New Zealand

Bangladesh will tour for two tests in Johannesburg and Pretoria in November. They will also play three ODIs and three Twenty20 Internationals. England will play a test series starting in Johannesburg on December 17, before a Boxing Day clash in Pretoria and a New Year test in Cape Town.

England will also play three ODIs.

South Africa co-host the 2027 Cricket World Cup with Namibia and Zimbabwe, with that tournament scheduled for October-November next year.

BENGALURU: New Zealand will embrace their status as Indian cricket fans’ “second favourite team” as they look to navigate a tough Super Eight group and reach the semi-finals of the Twenty20 World Cup, all-rounder Daryl Mitchell said.

The 2021 finalists, who were knocked out in the group stage at the last edition, find themselves facing two must-win matches against former champions Sri Lanka and England after Saturday’s washout against Pakistan.

“We think of ourselves as India’s second favourite team and the support that we get in the country is really cool,” Mitchell told Reuters.

“Hopefully we could turn the sea of blue that we’re used to when we play against India into some black shirts as well.”

New Zealand must first negotiate the turning tracks of Colombo when face Sri Lanka on Wednesday and England two days later, with Mitchell hopeful that his team’s experience can come into play.

“We all grew up in New Zealand on fast, bouncy, grassy wickets,” he added. “I guess the experience that our group has got from playing in these parts of the world over a number of years has helped in how we want to go about it.”

While New Zealand have one eye on their maiden World Cup trophy, Mitchell stressed the importance of staying focused. “It’d be really nice to get over the line and win a trophy, but there’s a lot of cricket to be played between now and then,” the 34-year-old said.

“So for us, the strength is that we stay present in the moment.

We don’t look too far ahead and we don’t make it bigger than what it is.“ Mitchell, who has 1,856 T20 international runs from 100 matches since his debut in 2019, has slotted into the role of a finisher thanks mainly to the explosive form of openers Tim Seifert and Finn Allen.

“The ‘Bash Brothers’ up top have done a great job and long that continue throughout this tournament. We’ve recognised the balance of our side over here in India,” Mitchell said. “The powerplay is very important, but the same goes for the middle (overs) with spin and the death as well. “I have a finisher’s role from the 10 overs onwards - trying to read and adapt to the situation of the game and try and help us win those moments at the back end of the innings.”

AHMEDABAD: A hungry South Africa will “keep wanting more” after their statement victory over co-hosts India at the T20 World Cup earmarked Aiden Markram’s side as serious title contenders.

India were swept aside by 76 runs as 80,000 fans in Ahmedabad were silenced on Sunday and their 12-match win streak at the T20 World Cup, stretching back to 2022, came to a crashing halt.

India, batting second for the first time in the tournament, collapsed to 111 all out in their Super Eights opener after South Africa posted 187-7.

David Miller showed India’s much-vaunted line-up how to bat on a slow Ahmedabad pitch, building an innings after South Africa lost early wickets and were 20-3 in the power play.

Miller put on 97 for the fourth wicket with Dewald Brevis (45) on his way to 63 off 35 balls in a perfectly paced knock.

It set the platform for Tristan Stubbs to launch a late assault with 44 off 24 balls, including a crucial 20 from the final over.

South Africa’s De Kock says handling pressure key in India clash

Miller said that India’s cloak of invincibility had been removed and now South Africa knew “that they are beatable”.

“It wasn’t easy. Playing against India is always really difficult and they’ve got some incredible team and players,” Miller told reporters.

“For us in a tournament like this, it’s about making sure that we do keep going back to the simple things, making sure that we stay in our lane as a player, get the job done and keep wanting more.

“We’re a mature team. A lot of guys have played together and a lot of cricket for South Africa and that goes a long way under pressure,” said Miller.

Quick bowler Marco Jansen took 4-22, ably supported by left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj (3-24) and fellow quick Lungi Ngidi (0-15) in a rematch of the 2024 final, won by India.

“Look I don’t think anyone was thinking of revenge. It was a big game,” Ngidi told reporters.

“But if we lift the trophy, that’s proper revenge – if you want to call it that.

“But tonight was just another game we needed to win to put ourselves in a better position to challenge for the trophy.”

The West Indies face Zimbabwe on Monday night in Mumbai in their Super Eights opener in the same group.

South Africa play the West Indies on Thursday in Ahmedabad where Markram’s side could put one foot firmly in the semi-finals with another win.

On the same day in Chennai, India face giant-killers Zimbabwe, who have already beaten Australia and Sri Lanka, and must win convincingly.

Anything less and India will need to beat the West Indies in their final match rely on a combination of other results going their way.

South Africa ended India’s 12-match winning streak at the T20 World Cup with a crushing 76-run win in Ahmedabad on Sunday in the opening Group 1 Super Eights match.

After a counter-attacking 63 by David Miller and some late hitting from Tristan Stubbs took South Africa to 187-7, the defending champions were all out for 111 in 18.5 overs, failing badly in their first chase of the tournament.

Left-arm quick Marco Jansen finished with 4-22, while left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj took 3-24 as the South African bowlers exposed India’s fragile batting line-up.

Hot favourites to defend their crown on home soil, India will need to win their two remaining Super Eight games against Zimbabwe and the West Indies to have a chance of qualifying.

READ MORE: South Africa’s De Kock says handling pressure key in India clash

But the magnitude of the defeat means they will take a poor net run rate forward and that could prove pivotal if their Super Eights group is tight.

Both teams were unbeaten in group phase and the game was a rematch of the 2024 T20 World Cup final in Barbados, which India won.

India’s unbeaten run in the tournament had stretched back to their defeat in the semi-final against eventual winners England in 2022.

South Africa struck immediately in India’s chase when captain Aiden Markram opened the bowling and dismissed Ishan Kishan with his off-spin.

Abhishek Sharma got his first runs of the tournament, after three ducks, with a four off Markram to get the 82,000 crowd on their feet in the cavernous stadium which has a reported capacity of 130,000.

The joy of Indian fans was short-lived as left-arm quick Marco Jansen had Tilak Varma caught behind for one in the next over and removed the left-handed Abhishek for 15.

India needed a partnership but Corbin Bosch dismissed Washington Sundar and skipper Suryakumar Yadav, who toe-ended to midwicket, as the hosts slumped to 51-5.

Left-arm spinner Maharaj took three wickets in one over to dismiss Hardik Pandya (18), Rinku Singh (0) and Arshdeep Singh (one) to shut the door on India.

Shivam Dube made 42 at the end, but it was too little too late and when he fell, off Jansen, last man Jasprit Bumrah followed next ball.

Batting first after winning the toss, South Africa slipped to 20-3 before Miller and Dewald Brevis, who hit 45, put on 97, to guide South Africa to 187-7.

Tristan Stubbs had a late cameo that saw him crash an unbeaten 44 off 24 balls and launch the final two balls of the innings both for six off Pandya.

India’s Jasprit Bumrah took 3-15.

KANDY: England routed Sri Lanka for 95 to give captain Harry Brook a perfect birthday present as they opened the T20 World Cup Super Eights phase with a resounding 51-run win in Kandy on Sunday.

After England were asked to bat first and scored what looked like a below-par 146-9, Jofra Archer and Will Jacks took five wickets during the six-over power play to leave Sri Lanka’s top order in tatters at 34-5.

“That’s a beautiful birthday present,” said Brook, who turned 27 on Sunday.

“I thought we played exceptionally there. To get over the line and bowl them out for less than 100 is an awesome effort.

“I didn’t think there were really any demons on the pitch. I think the spinners on both sides used the pace really well, and that’s what brought a lot of wickets.”

It was England’s 12th win in a row against Sri Lanka and on a pitch that was sticky and slow after rain all week in Kandy.

The margin of victory gives them a healthy net run rate advantage in a Super Eights group that could be further affected by weather, after the New Zealand-Pakistan match was washed out on Saturday in Colombo.

READ MORE: Pakistan v New Zealand T20 World Cup match washed out

“We’re buzzing with that,” said Jacks who was named player of the match for the third time in five matches in the tournament.

“At the halfway stage, we were pleased to get up to 146, but obviously we knew we were going to have to bowl well and work hard.”

The searing pace of Jofra Archer accounted for both openers, including the in-form Pathum Nissanka (9), who had scored a century and 62 in his last two knocks but failed to clear Jamie Overton at deep mid-wicket.

Archer finished with 2-20 and Jacks 3-22, the latter accounting for Kusal Mendis (4) and Pavan Rathnayake (0) in consecutive balls.

Dunith Wellalage staved off the hat-trick but lasted only 10 balls before also falling to Jacks, for 10.

Lone battle

Dasun Shanaka fought a lone battle scoring 30 off 24 balls before falling to Adil Rashid.

The Sri Lanka captain took on the leg-spinner but Jacks took the catch and tossed the ball to Tom Banton before stepping over the boundary.

“It’s one bad game which is not affordable in a World Cup,” said Shanaka.

“But we need to bounce back in the next couple of games.”

Sri Lanka earlier restricted England to 146-9 with left-arm spinner Wellalage taking 3-26.

Phil Salt scored 62 at the top of the order but Sri Lanka, who are missing three of their frontline bowlers, contained the rest of the England batting line-up with regular wickets.

Wellalage was introduced during the power play and trapped the out-of-form Jos Buttler (7) and Brook (14), both lbw, as England limped to 68-4 at the halfway mark.

Salt was caught in the deep off Wellalage after facing 40 deliveries with six fours and two sixes.

Jacks, with 21, was the only other England batsman to score more than 20.

“Jacksie was pretty annoyed with the way he got out,” said Brook, who then explained why the new ball was tossed to the off-spinner.

“He said to me he always bowls better when he’s angry, and thankfully he got off to a cracking start.”

Left-arm seamer Dilshan Madushanka took 2-25 while Maheesh Theekshana took 2-21 with his offspin.

SYDNEY: Australia coach Andrew McDonald is adamant the players he took to the Twenty20 World Cup were good enough, but the evidence suggests otherwise with a rebuild looming before they co-host the next tournament with New Zealand in 2028.

The 2021 champions were seen as title contenders again at the showpiece in India and Sri Lanka, but the former white ball heavyweights instead suffered a calamitous exit in the group stage for the first time since 2009.

They head home to a significant pile-on from former Australian greats and an acerbic media who expected more.

They have been quick to lob sharp criticism at the underperforming players and perceived selection blunders.

“We said at the start of this World Cup that we were concerned about Australia,” pace great Glenn McGrath told reporters, pointing to the absence of fast bowlers Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc as exposing a soft underbelly.

“All of a sudden, the aura of that Australian team is no longer there when other teams play it … unfortunately, not surprising.”

READ MORE: Australia coach defends World Cup planning, puts blame on players

The warning lights were flashing before the event even started when they capitulated heavily to Pakistan in a three-game warm-up, outplayed with bat and ball.

In those matches they lost by 22, 90 and 111 runs – the final two Australia’s largest in terms of runs in T20 internationals.

At the time, skipper Mitchell Marsh said: “Absolutely no stress from our end.”

That soon became: “It’s a devastated group” as their T20 campaign unravelled with defeats to Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka.

Australia’s three selectors – George Bailey, McDonald and Tony Dodemaide – have come in for particular criticism, notably their continued faith in under-performing all-rounders Cameron Green and Cooper Connolly.

They were also blasted for their head-scratching failure to play Steve Smith and to drop in-form Matt Renshaw for the Sri Lanka clash when they were still mathematically alive.

“Look at the selections, look at (Glenn) Maxwell, Connolly, Green and (Josh) Inglis, these guys are all out of form,” lamented Mark Waugh, himself a former selector.

“The selectors have their plans in place, but you’ve got to be smart enough to see which players are in form and which players are out of form.

“And you’ve got to play the percentages a lot better than what our selectors have played.”

Own the fact

A defiant McDonald said there was “always going to be differing opinions from the outside”, suggesting they “don’t understand what the moving parts are and the conversations are on the inside”.

“The build into this tournament and the style of cricket, the balance of our batting unit and the balance of our bowling attack, we felt really confident coming into this tournament,” McDonald added.

“I think the decisions that we made and the squad that we picked, we’ve got a room full of players that are incredibly disappointed knowing that they were good enough to progress, and we’ve just got to own the fact that we haven’t.”

A forensic review of their disastrous performance is set to kick in once they return home ahead of planning for the next T20 World Cup when only three in the current squad – Green, Connolly and quick Xavier Bartlett – will be aged under 30.

What becomes of some of their ageing champions like Maxwell, Marcis Stoinis, Hazlewood and Cummins remains to be seen. Starc has already bowed out of the game’s shortest format.

McDonald noted that with a heavy Test load ahead and a one-day World Cup in 2027, Australia’s T20 schedule was light going forward, giving them limited opportunities to fine-tune the team in the immediate future.

“In the next 12 months, we’ll have a lack of T20 cricket, as is the way of the schedule,” he said. “We go to Bangladesh and we’ve got a series against England.

“They won’t really ramp up until pretty much that World Cup year, which is similar to what happened in this cycle.

“That’s probably not enough to start to build out what your direction is. I think that’ll come a little bit closer.”

MUMBAI: West Indies coach Daren Sammy said Sunday his side had plans to counter Zimbabwe’s giant quick bowler Blessing Muzarabani, while admitting the 2.03m (6ft 8in) beanpole had the “X-factor”.

The West Indies will open their Super Eights campaign at Mumbai’s Wankhede stadium on Monday against tournament surprise packages Zimbabwe, who topped a group including Sri Lanka and Australia.

Muzarabani was one of the revelations of the group phase, taking nine wickets and 4-17 in the upset of Australia.

“We plan for every single player. Not only him. He’s an X-factor,” Sammy told reporters Sunday.

“You’ve got to respect the opposition. We know the threat they bring against us but we also know what we have to do in order for him not to be threatening against us.”

READ MORE: West Indies ease past Italy to tune up for T20 Super Eights

The Super Eights were pre-seeded before the tournament, so the top eight seeds knew in advance where they would be playing in the second phase. Only one, Australia, did not make it and were replaced by Zimbabwe.

The format though has come under fire after all four group winners – India, South Africa, West Indies and Zimbabwe – were pitted against each other in the second phase.

The four group runners-up – Sri Lanka, England, Pakistan and New Zealand – are all in the other Super Eights group.

The format has brought accusations of a lopsided second phase of the tournament with two of the group winners certain to miss the semi-finals.

Sammy played a straight when quizzed about the fixture list by reporters, saying the format gave certainty to teams and fans.

“If you take the logistics that comes into it, trying to give the fans who travel an opportunity to plan ahead, that’s the big thing for most people,” said Sammy.

“Zimbabwe came out of the group. That means somebody did not come out. Zimbabwe did what they had to do.

“I do understand from the logistic standpoint, trying to give the fans the surety, flights, whatever.”

Sammy indicated that all-rounder Romario Shepherd, who took a hat-trick against Scotland, could return after being out for the past week.

“He practised well yesterday,” Sammy said of the right-arm seamer and power hitter, who had strapping on his right knee during training on Sunday but looked in no discomfort.

“Bowled quite well, you know, hit the ball very, very cleanly.

“The good thing for us is that everybody is available for selection.

“So I’m glad to know and happy to know that all my soldiers are ready to go out to war.”

AHMEDABAD: Who “deals with the pressure better” will decide the India-South Africa Super Eights match, a repeat of the T20 World Cup final two years ago, said Quinton de Kock on Saturday.

The two unbeaten teams are familiar foes and both came through their T20 World Cup groups with perfect four-out-of-four records ahead of the clash in Ahmedabad on Sunday.

Aiden Markram’s South Africa toured India late last year, losing 3-1 in a T20 series.

“I think that’s what’s going to make for quite a good game tomorrow, because we’ve played against each other quite a bit over the last two months,” said South Africa opener De Kock.

“And to be honest, the teams haven’t really changed much.

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“So, I think it’s more when you’re out there on the pressure side, who deals with the pressure better and wins the small moments in the game.”

While South Africa looked strong in all departments in the group phase, the batting of the defending champions India has been inconsistent.

Opener Abhishek Sharma has recorded three consecutive ducks, but De Kock did not read too much into it.

“He’s the number one T20 batsman in the world at the moment, according to the rankings, so he must keep doing what he’s doing,” said de Kock of the 25-year-old Abhishek.