England stormed into the final of the Men’s T20 World Cup with a stunning 10-wicket demolition of India at the Adelaide Oval. Openers Jos Buttler and Alex Hales overcame a febrile atmosphere that supported India and chased down 169 without losing a wicket. They returned home with 24 balls to spare to set up a final against Pakistan on Sunday and seal one of England’s biggest white-ball victories. Hales finished on 86 not out from 47 and Buttler unbeaten on 80 from 49, with the England skipper closing the match with the pair’s 10th six. Earlier, England’s bowlers had restricted India well before Hardik Pandya’s 63 off 33 balls took his side to what looked like a Test score. But Hales, recalled after more than three years in the international wilderness, gave England a quick start and Buttler continued the attack. It throws the tournament off what would have been a delightful India-Pakistan final, instead securing a repeat of the famous 1992 50-over World Cup final at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG).
England roar into Sunday’s final
Hales hits seven sixes in an unbeaten 86 This was supposed to be the night when India united their arch-rivals in one of the great sporting finals. A frenzied crowd waited, but in the end, a small pocket of England fans were happy, the pacified India fans drifting away. England’s bowling effort, without Mark Wood due to injury and against India’s superstar line-up, was tidy and disciplined until they were derailed by Hardik’s late blitz. The hit was simply amazing. The towering Buttler held his nerve with three fours from the first over before he and Hales threw in pace and spin in seemingly effortless fashion. As the final, commanding hit was completed, Butler took off his helmet and roared with joy. A campaign that has been faltering since defeat by Ireland two weeks ago could now end with glory. Pakistan made a remarkable comeback of their own to reach the showpiece but were beaten 4-3 by England in a T20 series at home last month.
Hales returns all the credit
Eleven overs into the chase India’s ragged bowlers looked battered, the ball repeatedly going down towards or over the boundary rope. Buttler fell to 66 in the middle of the match, but by then the contest was over. Opting to chase on a used pitch, Hales and Buttler faced Adelaide’s small square boundaries to bat consistently at 10 runs per over. They got 63 from the powerplay – a stark contrast to India’s 38-1 – and never looked back. It was Hales’ greatest night of his England career, a career which ended when he walked out unreservedly on the eve of the 2019 World Cup before being recalled for this tournament following Jonny Bairstow’s injury. He swept spinners Axar Patel and Ravichandran Ashwin and hit the bowlers cleanly behind their heads for seven sixes. After a fast start, Butler settled into the utility role before unleashing his ramps and powerful strokes in a canter to the finish line.
The bowlers cut back before Hardik’s attack
Hardik Pandya hits five sixes in crucial innings for India Without the threat of Wood’s blistering pace, England fought well to contain India in the early stages. Chris Woakes took one to lift the length and take advantage of KL Rahul in the second over, Rohit Sharma was caught at deep mid-wicket by Wood’s replacement Chris Jordan for 27 off 28 balls and when the dangerous Suryakumar Yadav was caught in Adil’s deep spot. Rashid for 14, India were 75-3 in the 12th over. Kohli’s first boundary was a glorious drive for six over extra cover, but the former captain couldn’t find top speed, Rashid particularly effective in the middle with a four-over spell that cost only 20. Kohli finally fell in the 18th over, caught by a diving Rashid at short third off Jordan. Hardik then hit back sixes off Jordan in the 18th over – one a short ball that hit over mid-wicket and the next a fuller that flew spectacularly off his pads – before helping to take 22 off the penultimate over by Curran. Eighty runs came from the last seven overs and 47 from the last three, but in reality if Hardik had added another 30, it wouldn’t have been enough.
