India beats England 253-246 in semis

This was T20 cricket with the volume knob snapped off. India put up 253/7 against England in the second men’s T20 World Cup semi-final on March 5 in Mumbai, then just barely held on as England crashed to 246/7 in reply. India are through to the final. England are out. And the reason this match lingers is simple — almost 500 runs were scored in 40 overs, which is a World Cup record. (espncricinfo.com) ### Why was this semi-final such a big deal? Semi-finals are usually tense, a little cagey, and shaped by fear of one bad over. This one went the other way. Both teams swung hard from the start, and the game became a race between India’s depth and England’s ability to keep up. By the end, the combined 499 runs and 34 sixes had turned a knockout into a batting spectacle. (espncricinfo.com) ### How did India get to 253? Sanju Samson was the engine. He made 89 from 42 balls and gave India the kind of start that changes the whole geometry of a chase. Ishan Kishan added 39 off 18, Shivam Dube hit 43 off 25, and the lat(espncricinfo.com)t — Jofra Archer went for 61, the most England have conceded in a men’s T20 World Cup innings by one bowler. (cricbuzz.com) ### Did England still have a real shot? Yes — a very real one. Chasing 254 sounds absurd, but Jacob Bethell made it look reachable for long stretches. He blasted 105 off 48, which turned the chase from damage control into a live threat. Will Jacks added(cricbuzz.com)out totals this big — 12 an over feels impossible until one batter gets hot, then it suddenly feels normal. (espncricinfo.com) ### So what actually decided it? India’s margin for error was tiny, but their star bowlers still created just enough drag. Hardik Pandya took 2 for 38. Jasprit Bumrah’s figures were only 1 for 33, but in a game like this, four ov(espncricinfo.com) narrow because it is narrow — but in a chase this wild, one quieter over can be the whole match. (cricbuzz.com) ### Why does Samson stand out most? Because he set the tone before the chaos fully arrived. Bethell scored the only century of the match, but Samson’s 89 came first and shaped the game England had to play. He forced the chase into record territory, won (cricbuzz.com)gs can be more valuable than the flashier reply. (espncricinfo.com) ### What does this mean for India now? It puts India into Sunday’s final with momentum and with proof that they can win a game that becomes pure mayhem. That matters. Tournament winners usually need more than one script — not jus(espncricinfo.com)ge short of the final itself. (espncricinfo.com) ### And for England? England leave with the kind of loss that hurts more because they nearly did the impossible. Bethell’s hundred gave them a genuine path, but they were chasing a score that had already bent the tournament’s limits. The catch is that “almost” does not travel in knockouts. They scored 246 and still lost. That tells you how extreme India’s batting was. (espncricinfo.com) ### Bottom line? India did not just win a semi-final. They survived one of the most explosive men’s T20 World Cup matches ever played — and now they are one win from the trophy. (espncricinfo.com)