Sports

IND vs WI: Sanju Samson’s 97* Powers India to 5-Wicket Win Over West Indies, Sets Up Semifinal Clash with England

India secured a thrilling five-wicket victory over West Indies in their final Super-8 match to book a place in the semifinals. Riding on a sensational unbeaten 97 from Sanju Samson, Team India chased down a daunting 196-run target in just 19.2 overs at Kolkata on Sunday.

With this win, India advanced to the semifinals, where they will face England on March 5 at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium. The defeat ended West Indies’ campaign in the tournament.

West Indies Post 195/4 After Strong Start

After losing the toss and being asked to bat first, West Indies posted a competitive total of 195/4 in 20 overs. Openers Shai Hope and Roston Chase gave their side a solid foundation, stitching together a 68-run partnership off 53 balls during the powerplay without losing a wicket.

Varun Chakaravarthy broke the stand by bowling Hope for 32. However, West Indies continued to accelerate.

Bumrah Turns the Game

Jasprit Bumrah brought India back into the contest in the 12th over with two crucial wickets. He dismissed Shimron Hetmyer and Roston Chase in the same over. Chase scored a quickfire 40 off 25 balls, while Hetmyer smashed 27 off just 12 deliveries. Notably, Chase had received a lifeline earlier when Abhishek Sharma dropped a straightforward catch.

After the drinks break, Hardik Pandya removed Sherfane Rutherford (14) in the 15th over. However, the Indian bowlers couldn’t claim further wickets as Rovman Powell (34 off 19) and Jason Holder (37 off 22) remained unbeaten to take West Indies close to the 200-run mark.

India’s Chase: Early Setbacks but Samson Stands Tall

Chasing 196, India had a shaky start. Abhishek Sharma (10 off 11) and Ishan Kishan (10 off 6) were dismissed while attempting big shots. Captain Suryakumar Yadav joined Sanju Samson at No. 4 to stabilize the innings.

Samson played with remarkable freedom, finding gaps effortlessly and hitting elegant boundaries. He brought up his half-century in just 26 balls, keeping India in the hunt.

At the halfway mark, India were 98/2 after 10 overs, needing another 98 runs from the final 10 overs.

Middle Overs Drama

Suryakumar Yadav struggled for rhythm and was dismissed for 18 off 16 balls in the 11th over. His 58-run partnership with Samson off 35 balls proved crucial in maintaining momentum.

Hardik Pandya failed to make an impact, scoring just 17 runs. Tilak Varma supported Samson with a brisk 27 off 15 balls before getting caught off Jason Holder’s bowling. The duo added 42 runs in 26 balls.

Samson Falls Short of Century, Wins Player of the Match

Sanju Samson remained unbeaten on 97 off 50 balls, smashing 12 fours and 4 sixes in a match-winning knock. He narrowly missed his century but ensured India crossed the finish line with four balls to spare. For his outstanding performance, Samson was named Player of the Match.

Shivam Dube contributed 8* off 4 balls with two boundaries to seal the victory in style.

From Bench to Match Winner

Interestingly, Samson had spent much of the tournament on the bench. After limited opportunities earlier, he grabbed his chance in this virtual quarterfinal and delivered when it mattered most. Following India’s Super-8 loss to South Africa, the team management made key changes to the playing XI, and Samson repaid their faith with a career-defining knock.