KOLKATA: A blistering unbeaten 97 from Sanju Samson guided India to a thrilling five-wicket victory over West Indies cricket team at Eden Gardens, sealing a semi-final berth in the T20 World Cup Super Eight stage on Sunday.
Chasing 196 in a must-win encounter, India reached 199/5 in 19.2 overs, with Samson anchoring the innings with a masterful 97* off 50 balls, studded with 12 fours and four sixes. He found crucial support from Tilak Varma, who scored a brisk 27 off 15 balls, and Shivam Dube, who remained unbeaten on 8.
India will now face England cricket team in the semi-final in Mumbai on March 5.
India’s Chase
India began positively, but lost Abhishek Sharma (10) and Ishan Kishan (10) early, slipping to 41/2 in 4.3 overs. Samson counterattacked, reaching his fifty in just 26 balls with an array of crisp boundaries.
Captain Suryakumar Yadav contributed 18 before falling, while Tilak stitched a valuable 42-run partnership with Samson to keep the chase on track.
After Tilak and Hardik Pandya (17) departed, Samson held firm. With seven required in the final over, he sealed the match in style by smashing Romario Shepherd for a six and a four.
For West Indies, Jason Holder (2/38) and Shamar Joseph (2/42) were the leading wicket-takers.
West Indies Innings
Earlier, West Indies posted 195/4 after being put in to bat by Indian skipper Suryakumar Yadav.
Openers Shai Hope (32) and Roston Chase (40) provided a steady start. A mid-innings collapse triggered by Jasprit Bumrah, who picked up 2/36, reduced them to 119/4.
However, a counterattacking 76-run stand between Holder (37* off 22) and Rovman Powell (34 off 19) lifted West Indies to a competitive total. Powell also became the first West Indian to complete 150 sixes in T20Is during the innings.
Despite a late flourish, India’s disciplined death bowling — particularly from Bumrah and Arshdeep Singh — restricted the damage in the final overs.
Brief Scores:
West Indies 195/4 (Roston Chase 40, Jason Holder 37*; Jasprit Bumrah 2/36)
India 199/5 (Sanju Samson 97*, Tilak Varma 27; Jason Holder 2/38)
India won by five wickets.
