 |
|
Axar Patel, the star Indian spinner, expressed his satisfaction with India's 172-run target against England in the T20 World Cup 2024 semi-final, calling it a 'very good score'. His statement reflected the challenging nature of the pitch in Guyana, which made it difficult for batsmen to hit big shots.
Patel, who was awarded the 'Player of the Match' for his outstanding performance in the second innings, claimed that India's skipper, Rohit Sharma, had briefed the team about the pitch's challenging conditions. According to Sharma, the unpredictable bounce and spin made it difficult to launch powerful strokes.
Axar emphasized that the team had initially targeted a score between 150 and 160, believing it to be defendable. Their ability to surpass this target by 10-15 runs boosted their confidence. The Indian spinner acknowledged the difficulty in scoring runs during the powerplay but credited his simplicity and adaptability in adapting to the challenging wicket. He aimed to force the English batsmen into uncomfortable positions, forcing them to play unfamiliar shots.
England, having won the toss, opted to bowl first against Rohit Sharma's India. The Indian batting order, led by Rohit Sharma and Suryakumar Yadav, managed to put up a respectable 171/7. Hardik Pandya and Ravindra Jadeja played crucial supporting roles in the first inning.
England's bowling attack was spearheaded by Chris Jordan, who took three wickets and conceded 37 runs in his three-over spell. However, England's batting line-up struggled to adapt to the challenging pitch, falling short of the target by a significant margin. They could only manage 103 runs in 16.4 overs.
The only bright spots for the Three Lions were Harry Brook and Jos Buttler. India's bowling attack was led by Axar Patel and Kuldeep Yadav, who both claimed three wickets each, contributing significantly to India's comfortable 68-run victory. Jasprit Bumrah also chipped in with two wickets while defending the 172-run target.
This victory set the stage for a thrilling T20 World Cup final, pitting the unbeaten sides, India and South Africa, against each other in Barbados on Saturday. The anticipation is high as both teams vie for the coveted title.
Source: It was a very good score: Axar Patel on India's 172-run target to England in semi-final match