West Indies Vs India: west indies vs india — Samson's 97 sends India into semi
In a winner-takes-all Super 8s fixture at Eden Gardens, Kolkata, west indies vs india ended with India chasing down 196 to beat West Indies by five wickets. Sanju Samson's unbeaten 97 off 50 balls anchored the run chase and ensured India a semi-final meeting with England at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Thursday at 13: 30 GMT.
West Indies Vs India match recap
West Indies posted 195-4 in their 20 overs after being inserted to bat. Roston Chase, handed an opening slot for the first time in Twenty20 internationals, top-scored with 40 off 25. Shai Hope contributed an innings of 32 off 33. Shimron Hetmyer made 27 before falling to Jasprit Bumrah. Rovman Powell and Jason Holder finished unbeaten on 34 and 37 respectively, the pair combining to add 76 off the last 35 balls.
Samson's 97 and chase
India reached 199-5 in 19. 2 overs as Samson finished 97 not out from 50 deliveries, striking 12 fours and four sixes. Tilak Varma added 27 off 15 balls as the next highest Indian score. Samson was at the crease to hit the winning runs: he struck a six and then a four off Romario Shepherd, sealing victory with four balls to spare. The 31-year-old lifted his 50th delivery over mid-on as part of the decisive strike that completed the chase.
West Indies innings details
Roston Chase's unexpected promotion to opener powered the West Indies start, contributing to partnerships of 68 off 53 with Shai Hope and 34 off 16 with Shimron Hetmyer. Jasprit Bumrah produced a pivotal over, outfoxing Chase with a slower ball and then dismissing Shimron Hetmyer with a delivery angling across that took a thin edge; both dismissals occurred in the same over. Bumrah finished with figures of 2-36.
Fielding errors and tensions
India were sloppy in the field after inserting West Indies, dropping three catches and missing a run-out chance. There was tetchiness and a few cross words on the field; Abhishek Sharma was singled out for one particularly poor fumble. Those lapses helped West Indies to a competitive total of 195-4.
Tournament consequences and schedule
India's triumph secured the co-hosts the runners-up spot in Super 8s Group 1 behind South Africa and set up a semi-final against Group 2 winners England in Mumbai on Thursday at 13: 30 GMT. For the third time in three T20 World Cups, England will meet India in the semi-finals; the co-hosts' win eliminated West Indies from the competition in what was described as effectively a quarter-final on Sunday night.
Samson's place in the side had been in doubt earlier in the tournament: he lost his place on the eve of the event and was recalled after India's humbling Super 8s defeat by South Africa. India had never previously chased more than 173 to win a World Cup match in the 20-over format, making the 196 chase a tournament landmark for the side.
