India entered the T20 World Cup 2026 final after a nail-biting 7-run victory over England. Sanju Samson's 89 powered India to 253, and despite Jacob Bethell's ton, England fell short in a record-breaking run-fest in Mumbai.
It was a run-fest in Mumbai as India won the match by just seven runs despite making 253 runs while batting first. An aggregate of 499 runs was recorded in the match, which is the second highest ever in Men's T20Is after 517 runs, which was made during a T20I match between South Africa and West Indies at the Centurion in 2023. The third and fourth-highest match aggregates also involve India. The third-highest was against New Zealand, where 496 runs were made. It was played in Thiruvananthapuram just before this tournament started. The fourth-highest match aggregate is 488 runs, which was between India and West Indies, during a bilateral T20I series in Lauderhill in 2016.
Samson Stars as India Post Mammoth Total
India were asked to bat first and posted a mammoth total of 253 runs for the two-time champions in the knockout fixture. Sanju Samson made 89 runs with the help of eight fours and seven sixes. Shivam Dube (43 off 25 balls) and Ishan Kishan (39 off just 18 balls) helped him from the other end. Tilak Varma (21 off 7 balls) and Hardik Pandya's (27 off 12 balls) quick knocks at the end helped India post the biggest total in a T20 World Cup knockout match.
Will Jacks and Adil Rashid took a couple of wickets each for England, while Jofra Archer grabbed the crucial wicket of Varma.
Bethell's Ton in Vain as England Fall Short
In response, Jacob Bethell's maiden T20I ton kept England alive in the game for most of the time, but the Three Lions failed to reach the total by seven runs.
Match Shatters Boundary Records
The match witnessed 34 sixes, which is the most in a T20 World Cup match. Earlier, the record was 31 sixes, which was made during the match between Zimbabwe and the West Indies in this tournament. Overall, 73 boundaries were hit in the match, including 39 fours and 34 sixes, which is the most in a T20 World Cup match, well clear of the next best -- 61 between England and South Africa at this venue in 2016.
Clash of Titans in the Final
Now, India will face New Zealand in the final to be played at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Sunday. (ANI)
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