India beats England to confirm T20 World Cup final spot

India will take on South Africa in Barbados on Saturday after Rohit Sharma’s men cruised past England, reaching 171 with the bat before stifling Jos Buttler’s attacks with exceptional spin bowling

Providence: India 171-7, England 103 – India win by 68 runs

India will take on South Africa in the final of the Men’s T20 World Cup on Saturday after beating England by 68 runs in Guyana.

Rohit Sharma made 57 runs and Suryakumar Yadav 47 after batting first on a day of heavy rain in Providence before the Indian spinners took over and England were left well short.

The reigning champions were always looking back in the second semi-final – South Africa defeated Afghanistan by nine wickets on Wednesday – on a surface that was low throughout and suited the spinners.

It took just one ball for Axar Patel to dismiss Jos Buttler after England reached 26 in three overs without loss. He finished off a reverse sweep to Rishabh Pant, before Jasprit Bumrah deceived Phil Salt with a slower ball in the next over. From then on the innings dropped off dramatically.

Axar then slid a delivery through Jonny Bairstow, and England were 35 for 3 inside the powerplay. When Moeen Ali was punched through his thigh pad, the match was all but over as a contest, and when Sam Curran went back for a Kuldeep Yadav googly, only to be caught on his shin, they were 49 for 5.

Harry Brook hit three boundaries in his 25, but he was a second victim for Kuldeep, bowling what appeared to be a repeat of a reverse-swept four from the previous ball. Kuldeep then trapped Chris Jordan in front as the rout was sealed, with two farcical run-outs from Liam Livingstone and Adil Rashid to follow.

Related: It is South Africa’s turn to break new ground now that the Afghan party has been closed

^{Moeen Ali was stunned as England were routed (Randy Brooks/AFP via Getty Images)}

Earlier, England had started well enough through Reece Topley, who cleared Virat Kohli as the former Indian captain’s poor tournament continued. Sam Curran then had Rishabh Pant caught at midwicket.

But a 73-run stand between Rohit and Suryakumar – interrupted by a rain delay – turned the match towards India, who were demolished when these two sides met at the same stadium two years ago.

Rohit was deceived by an Adil Rashid googly that stayed low, before Suryakumar holed out to long-on off Jofra Archer. But Hardik Pandya (23) and Ravindra Jadeja (17*) made cameos either side of a first-ball duck for Shivam Dube to take India to 171 for 7, which was ultimately more than enough in conditions that were ideal for India’s champion bowling attack.

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