India set up T20 World Cup semi-final clash against England on Thursday after crushing Zimbabwe
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India set up T20 World Cup showdown with England after crushing Zimbabwe by 71 runs…
- India beat Zimbabwe by 71 runs in the MCG to top Group 2 at the T20 World Cup
- Result means India will play against England in the Adelaide Oval on Thursday
- Pakistan takes second and plays New Zealand on Wednesday instead
- India finished 186-5 with Suryakumar Yadav crushing 61 from 25 balls
- Ravi Ashwin was the favorite of the Indian bowlers, finishing with figures of 3-22
India has closed a semi-final of the Twenty20 World Cup with England by beating Zimbabwe by 71 runs in front of 82,507 fans in the MCG.
India needed to win on Sunday night to finish at the top of Group 2 and made no mistake to secure their fourth win of the tournament.
A late outburst by Suryakumar Yadav brought a slow-starting India to 186-5 after captain Rohit Sharma won the toss and batted first.
India top Group 2 after a comfortable 71 run over Zimbabwe on Sunday in the MCG
Yadav lightened the MCG with a scintillating unbeaten 61 to put India in a lead after falling over to 101-4 in the 14th.
The classy right-hander brought up his 50 from just 23 balls before hitting an extraordinary six in the last delivery of the innings to send the crowd into a frenzy.
Zimbabwe was no match for the cricketing powerhouse in the chase and was all out in the 18th over for 115.
The grand total was made more respectable by blows from Ryan Burl (35) and Sikandar Raza (34) after Zimbabwe was reduced to 2-2 and 38-5 to give chase.
Ravi Ashwin (right) was the favorite of the Indian bowlers, finishing with figures of 3-22
Virat Kohli and his teammates play against England in the Adelaide Oval on Thursday
Suryakumar Yadav shot an entertaining 61 from just 25 balls while India went to 186-5 . went
Star spinner Ravi Ashwin was the Indian bowlers’ pick with 3-22.
The highlight for Zimbabwe was when Burl took out a contender for the tournament’s catch as he dove at full power to sack Indian danger man Rishabh Pant.
It was Pant’s first game of the World Cup, with India determined to give him a point for the semi-finals, but the explosive southpaw was out for just three after Burl’s exploits at the rope at the Punt Rd end of the ground.
Ryan Burl scored top for Zimbabwe and finished with 35 from just 22 balls
He also drew a contender for the tournament’s catch to Rishabh Pant. to fire
India would certainly qualify for the semi-finals, but their victory over Zimbabwe means they face England in the second semi-final at the Adelaide Oval on Thursday night.
If they can beat England, they will return to the MCG for the final, a venue where they won twice in two weeks and enjoyed the rousing support of India’s passionate fans.
New Zealand will face Pakistan in the other semifinal in Adelaide on Wednesday.