India edges England in high-scoring thriller to reach T20 World Cup final

By Canadian Press on March 5, 2026.

MUMBAI, India (AP) — India motored into the Twenty20 World Cup final after beating England by just seven runs in a high-scoring semifinal at Wankhede Stadium on Thursday.

The tournament co-host will defend its 2024 crown against New Zealand in the final on Sunday in Ahmedabad.

India powered to 253-7, the fourth highest total in T20 World Cup history, and England replied with 246-7, the fifth highest ever.

There were 499 runs with 34 sixes — 19 by India and 15 by England.

Sanju Samson, dropped on 15, hit 89 off 42 balls to lead India. Jofra Archer went 1-61, conceding the most runs ever by an England bowler in a men’s T20 World Cup.

Jacob Bethell led England’s reply with a career-first 105 off 48 balls, including seven sixes. He fell on the first ball of the last over, when England needed 30 runs to win, trying to run a second single that wasn’t on.

Jasprit Bumrah bowled a controlled spell of 1-33 in four overs, and Axar Patel took two stunning catches in the field and fashioned another.

India beat England in a second successive T20 World Cup semifinal and will try on Sunday to become the first team to win three World Cups and consecutive titles. New Zealand has never won the men’s T20 World Cup.

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AP cricket: https://apnews.com/hub/cricket

The Associated Press