“Certainly don’t want to see a India v Pakistan final” Jos Butler at T20 World Cup
England are one step away from a place in the T20 World Cup final, but they must now get past India, the most in form team of the tournament, if they want to secure their place in the climactic match. Jos Buttler’s side were put on the back foot during the Super 12 group stages after a rain-affected loss to Ireland and a washout versus Australia. England needed to win both of their last two matches – versus New Zealand and Sri Lanka – to qualify ahead of the Aussies and reach the final four.
Buttler himself stepped up to the plate against New Zealand with a brilliant knock at the top of the order before some inspired captaincy kept the Kiwis in check. Sam Curran performed brilliantly with the ball in both games before Ben Stokes (42*) guided England to victory against Sri Lanka with his best innings of the competition.
India are the semi-final opponents. They’ve won four of their fives matches so far including tense finishes against Pakistan and Bangladesh. Virat Kohli is back in form and Suryakumar Yadav has made this tournament his own. The Indian team is full of quality and they’ll be difficult to beat this morning yet if England play to the best of their ability they are in with a chance.
Follow the action as England take on India in the T20 World Cup semi-final:
England 156-0, Buttler 71, Hales 81, Patel 0-30 (4) England need 169 runs to win
Axar Patel returns for his final over. Hales dinks him away for one before Buttler does the same. England will be counting down these runs now.
Just two runs come from the over but England only need 13 to win.
Michael Jones10 November 2022 10:57
England 154-0, Buttler 70, Hales 80, Shami 0-25 (2) England need 169 runs to win
Oh my! That is superb. Jos Buttler stands his ground and smokes a length ball from Shami over his head and straight into the stands! Six more for the England captain.
Dropped! Buttler goes again and knocks this one very high into the air. Suryakumar Yadav has to track back to get to the ball but he spills it and to make matters worse the ball rolls away for four!
Michael Jones10 November 2022 10:55
England 144-0, Buttler 60, Hales 80, Shami 0-15 (1.3) England need 169 runs to win
Everything is coming off the middle of the bat for England. Even the shots that don’t beat the fielders. Mohammed Shami is brought back on and Buttler plays back two dots before lifting him over the offside for four more!
Michael Jones10 November 2022 10:52
England 140-0, Buttler 56, Hales 80, Hardik 0-34 (3) England need 169 runs to win
Incredible batting from Buttler! He scoops Hardik for four then hooks a short ball over deep midwicket for six runs to bring up his 50!
Buttler takes one off the final delivery. England now need just 29 runs to win.
Michael Jones10 November 2022 10:50
England 129-0, Buttler 45, Hales 80, Hardik 0-23 (2.3) England need 169 runs to win
England now need less than one run per ball. Hardik Pandya continues and Buttler takes him for a couple before pushing one into the offside for one.
Hales then tries to unleash and scoops the ball over mid-on allowing Buttler to scramble through for three.
Michael Jones10 November 2022 10:47
England 123-0, Buttler 42, Hales 77, Ashwin 0-27 (2) England need 169 runs to win
Huge! Oh my word. Alex Hales drops to his knee and slog sweeps Ashwin over the short square boundary for six runs!
Hales follows up with a square cut through cover for another four. This one coming all along the deck. 15 runs from the over.
England are motoring now.
Michael Jones10 November 2022 10:45
England 112-0, Buttler 41, Hales 67, Ashwin 0-16 (1.3) England need 169 runs to win
Ashwin returns. His previous over went for a few but he found some turn and bounce. Buttler cuts him away from one to bring Hales back on strike.
There isn’t as much pressure on England now and they can milk Ashwin away from ones and twos.
Michael Jones10 November 2022 10:43
England 108-0, Buttler 38, Hales 66, Hardik 0-17 (2) England need 169 runs to win
Hales takes Hardik for three runs from the next three balls as the bowler tries to mix up his lines and lengths.
Buttler then inside edges one into the offside and Hales calls him through for another run. 10 runs come from the over as Pandya finishes with a nice bouncer that Hales ducks underneath.
Michael Jones10 November 2022 10:41
England 104-0, Buttler 37, Hales 63, Hardik 0-13 (1.1) England need 169 runs to win
Six runs! Alex Hales waits deep in his crease for Hardik Pandya to bang the ball into the wicket. He does and Hales rocks onto the back foot and smokes him over deep midwicket for a maximum to bring up England’s 100!
Michael Jones10 November 2022 10:38
England 98-0, Buttler 37, Hales 57, Arshdeep 0-15 (2) England need 169 runs to win
It turns into a decent over from Arshdeep in the end. Just seven runs coming from it. England reach the halfway stage of the innings 98-0 needing 71 runs to win from 60 balls.
Michael Jones10 November 2022 10:36
