Gemini said Samson and Dube Star as India Edge England in Wankhede Thriller to Secure World Cup Final Berth
By Sachit Subba • Cricket • Mar 06, 2026 08:31 AM • 16 views
MUMBAI – India fended off a spirited England fightback to win by 7 runs at the Wankhede Stadium on Thursday. The win puts India in the ICC T20 World Cup Final against New Zealand. After losing Abhishek Sharma early, India posted 253/7, driven by power-hitting.
Sanju Samson led the Indian innings with a blistering 89 off 42 balls, including 8 boundaries and 7 sixes. He dominated the English pace attack, scoring freely against both Jofra Archer and Sam Curran. This was his second consecutive half-century of the tournament. Ishan Kishan contributed 39, while Shivam Dube added a quick 43, keeping the run rate up during the middle overs. Hardik Pandya and Tilak Varma’s late surge added 63 runs in the last four overs, taking India past 250 and leaving the English bowlers struggling.
Chasing 254 was always going to be a mountain to climb. England’s ascent began poorly: Jasprit Bumrah struck in the opening over to remove Harry Brook, and Phil Salt soon fell cheaply. The first key turning point came with the arrival of young Jacob Bethell. Playing the innings of his life, Bethell smashed 105 off just 48 deliveries. His 7 sixes brought England within striking distance and briefly silenced the partisan Mumbai crowd. A second turning point unfolded as Will Jacks joined Bethell, adding an aggressive 35. Together, they turned a lopsided contest into a genuine nail-biter that went down to the final moments.
Despite the onslaught, India’s death-over specialists excelled. The first key turning point came in the 18th over, when Jasprit Bumrah returned and conceded just 6 runs under pressure, swinging the momentum back to the hosts. The second pivotal moment was the final over, assigned to Shivam Dube, who had to defend 30 runs against England’s lower-order batters. England fought until the last ball, but Dube’s discipline ensured India won by 7 runs. England’s resilience was commendable, but India’s depth was decisive. The win propelled them into the final, giving them momentum as they aim to end their ICC trophy drought.
