India captain Suryakumar Yadav made a bold call in the final over as India defeated England national cricket team in the semi-final of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup at Wankhede Stadium on Thursday, March 6.
England needed 30 runs in the final over while chasing a huge target of 254 runs. Suryakumar had to decide who would bowl the last over. The options were Axar Patel and Shivam Dube.
The Indian captain trusted Dube for the crucial over.
England were 224/6 after 19 overs. Jacob Bethell was batting brilliantly on 104 from just 47 balls. He took strike in the final over with England still hoping for a famous win.
Dube bowled a full delivery on the first ball. Bethell tried to hit it but failed to get proper timing. The ball went towards long-off. Bethell tried to take two runs. However, Hardik Pandya produced a sharp piece of fielding and threw the ball quickly to run Bethell out at the striker’s end.
That moment changed the game.
Dube then conceded only two singles in the next two balls. This almost sealed the win for India. England fast bowler Jofra Archer hit the last three balls for sixes. But it was not enough. England finished seven runs short of India’s total.
Axar Patel says he was ready for the last over
After the match, Axar said he was ready to bowl the final over if needed. He spoke about the situation while talking to Star Sports.
“Mai ready tha. Mai long off pe khada tha aur ready tha aur bowling practice bhi kar raha tha. 30 runs to bohot, 5 chakke to nahi khaunga ye pata tha,” Axar said with a laugh. (I was ready. I was standing at long-off and was already practising the final over. Thirty runs were too many and I knew I wouldn’t get hit for five sixes in an over.)
Both players had a strong impact on the match. Dube scored a quick 43 runs from 25 balls earlier in the innings. Axar also impressed with the ball and in the field. He dismissed Tom Banton and was involved in two more dismissals with excellent fielding.
India’s calm performance in the final moments helped them secure an exciting victory.
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