Sanju Samson's 97 Seals India Win over West Indies and Sets Up England Semi
sanju samson produced a 97‑not‑out from 50 balls to carry India to a five‑wicket Super 8 victory over the West Indies at Eden Gardens in Kolkata, a result that clinches the co‑hosts a semi‑final meeting with England in Mumbai. The innings matters now because it allowed India to chase 196 and secure second place in Group 1, setting up a high‑stakes semi at the Wankhede Stadium on Thursday.
Sanju Samson's unbeaten 97 at Eden Gardens
Samson batted through India’s chase to finish 97* off 50 balls, striking 12 fours and four sixes. He reached the winning total after India chased down 196 to finish 199‑5 in 19. 2 overs, hitting a six and then a four off Romario Shepherd to close the match with four balls to spare. The knock came on Samson’s 50th delivery when he lifted one over mid‑on to seal victory by five wickets.
West Indies 195‑4 and Roston Chase's opening role
Put in to bat, the West Indies posted 195‑4 in their 20 overs. Roston Chase, handed an opening slot for the first time in Twenty20 internationals, top‑scored with 40 off 25 balls and helped power the innings through partnerships of 68 off 53 with Shai Hope and 34 off 16 with Shimron Hetmyer. Shimron Hetmyer finished with 27 and Shai Hope made 32 off 33, while Jason Holder and Rovman Powell added an unbeaten 76 off the final 35 deliveries to push the total to 195.
Fielding lapses, Abhishek Sharma and Jasprit Bumrah's response
India’s decision to insert the West Indies was undermined by lapses in the field: three dropped catches, a missed run‑out opportunity and a notably poor fumble by Abhishek Sharma. Jasprit Bumrah then stemmed the run flow, finishing with two wickets for 36, dismissing both Shai Hope and Shimron Hetmyer in a single over and using a slower ball to outfox Chase. Those strikes helped check a flourishing West Indian momentum.
India chase and supporting contributions including Tilak Varma
After Samson’s control of the innings, Tilak Varma was India’s next highest scorer with 27 off 15 balls, underlining the manner in which Samson anchored the chase. India had never before chased more than 173 to win a World Cup match in the 20‑over format, making this successful pursuit of 196 their largest World Cup chase to date.
Semi‑finals scheduled: Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai and tournament implications
India’s triumph secures runners‑up in Super 8s Group 1 behind South Africa and sets a semi‑final showdown with Group 2 winners England at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Thursday at 13: 30 GMT. For the third consecutive T20 World Cup, England will face India in a semi‑final; in the past two tournaments the winner of that clash went on to lift the trophy. The other semi‑final will pit New Zealand, runners‑up in England’s Super 8s group, against South Africa, who sealed top spot in their group by defeating Zimbabwe by five wickets in Delhi. South Africa had earlier beaten New Zealand by seven wickets in the first group stage, extending a 100% T20 World Cup record over the Black Caps across five meetings.
