"This would be right up there for me as my perfect innings."
England will be facing Pakistan in the T20 World Cup Final after a mesmerising performance against India.
England elected India to bat first and the men in blue got off to a quick start, scoring six runs in the opening over.
However, the Indians suffered their first loss when KL Rahul seemed to have been taken by surprise by Chris Woakes’ ball.
India steadily amassed runs, although it was not like what was seen throughout the tournament.
Rohit Sharma seemed to have been struggling with the timing of the balls but he soon settled in and hit successive boundaries in the fifth over, taking India’s score to 31-1.
The partnership between Sharma and Virat Kohli continued until the former’s swift dismissal for 27.
At the halfway point of their innings, India were 62-2.
Adil Rashid picked up a big wicket in Suryakumar Yadav, leaving India 75-3.
Kohli continued his impressive batting performance and India reached 100 runs in the 15th over.
It looked like his time at the crease was over when Chris Jordan’s ball knocked Kohli off his feet. But the review said he was not out.
Kohli eventually went out for 50.
Hardik Pandya hit some big shots for India as the side looked for a big finish.
India finished their innings with 168-6.
England’s batting got off to a fast start, scoring 13 runs in the first over.
They continued their impressive innings, coupled with some poor fielding from India, and they reached 98-0 by the 10th over.
Alex Hales was putting on a masterclass, hitting his sixth six in the 11th over to bring up the century partnership with Jos Buttler from just 64 balls.
England’s run rate was so high that they could afford to score low-risk ones and twos.
By the 13th over, England were 140-0 and were getting closer to victory.
India’s lack of aggression resulted in more runs for England and by the 15th over, they needed just 13 runs to win.
In the 16th over, Hales backed away to smash a slower short ball from Mohammed Shami over extra cover for four.
Buttler ended the match in style, smashing one final six to give England a 10-wicket victory.
Hales and Buttler’s partnership of 170 is the highest for any wicket in a men’s T20 World Cup.
Alex Hales was named player of the match and afterwards, he said:
“This would be right up there for me as my perfect innings.
“India in the semi-final, big occasion, I’m so happy with how I played, it’s special.”
“This is one of the best grounds to bat at in the world, it’s such a good surface and you get such good value for your shots with the shorter square boundaries.
“It’s a ground I really enjoy playing at.
“I never thought I’d play in a World Cup again so this is so special, and to do it in a country where I love playing. It’s one of the best nights of my career.”
England will now take on Pakistan in the T20 World Cup final on November 13, 2022.
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