India advanced to the semi-finals of the Twenty20 World Cup after a thrilling five-wicket victory over West Indies in a pivotal Super Eights clash. Sanju Samson starred with an impressive unbeaten score of 97, enabling his team to successfully chase down the 196-run target with four balls remaining.
As the defending champions, India will be competing in the semi-finals for the third consecutive time. They are set to face England in Mumbai on Thursday, following the match between South Africa and New Zealand, which will kick off the semi-final round a day earlier.
West Indies batted first at Eden Gardens, compiling a total of 195-4. The highlight of their innings was a powerful partnership between Rovman Powell and Jason Holder, who contributed 76 runs from the last 35 balls without losing their wickets.
Despite a rocky start in their innings with the early dismissals of Abhishek Sharma and Ishan Kishan, India rallied in the chase. Samson’s aggressive performance included four sixes and 12 fours, leading India to a final score of 199-5. This victory marks the highest successful run chase in this T20 World Cup, showcasing the team’s resilience under pressure.