Kolkata, India — Defending champions India stormed into the T20 World Cup semi-finals with a thrilling five-wicket victory over West Indies in a decisive Super Eights clash at Eden Gardens on Sunday.
Chasing a daunting 196, India completed their highest-ever successful run chase in a 20-over World Cup match, reaching 199-5 with four balls to spare. The architect of the memorable win was Sanju Samson, whose unbeaten 97 off 50 balls — featuring 12 fours and four sixes — proved to be a masterclass in composure and controlled aggression.
India’s pursuit began shakily, with Abhishek Sharma and Ishan Kishan dismissed inside the first five overs. But Samson steadied the innings with remarkable maturity, carefully rebuilding before accelerating at the right moments. Tilak Varma’s brisk 27 off 15 balls provided crucial support, but it was Samson who carried the chase almost single-handedly.
Fittingly, he sealed the victory in style — launching a six and then a boundary off Romario Shepherd to finish the contest and spark celebrations in Kolkata.
Earlier, India had opted to bowl but endured a sloppy outing in the field. Three dropped catches — including a costly miss by Abhishek Sharma — and a missed run-out opportunity allowed West Indies to capitalize.
Roston Chase, surprisingly promoted to open, anchored the innings with a composed 40 off 25 balls as West Indies reached 102-1 before Jasprit Bumrah turned the tide. The pace spearhead outfoxed Chase with a slower delivery and later dismissed Shimron Hetmyer for 27 with a sharp ball that induced a thin edge.
Rovman Powell (34*) and Jason Holder (37*) then launched a late assault, stitching together an unbeaten 76-run partnership off the final 35 balls to lift West Indies to 195-4. However, their strong finish ultimately proved insufficient against Samson’s brilliance.
With the win, India secured the runners-up spot in Group 1 behind South Africa and will face Group 2 winners England in the semi-final at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Thursday. South Africa will meet New Zealand in the first semi-final a day earlier.
Having now reached the semi-finals for the third consecutive edition, India’s title defense remains firmly on track — powered by a record-breaking chase and a knock that will be remembered as one of the finest in T20 World Cup history.
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