England turn on style to knock out holders

ENGLAND face a shoot-out with the West Indies today for a place in the World Twenty20 semi-finals after eliminating holders India at Lord’s. Defending a decent total of 153 last night, the hosts played aggressive cricket to seal victory by three runs. And if they beat the Windies at the Brit Oval, they will make the last four of a campaign which started with a disastrous defeat against Holland.

India, who put England into bat after winning the toss, saw their reply stifled early on by Ryan Sidebottom. He bowled Rohit Sharma for nine and had Suresh Raina caught by Luke Wright for two with just 24 runs on the board.

Stuart Broad then made two superb catches to dismiss Gautam Gambhir off Dimi Mascarenhas and Ravindra Jadeja off Graeme Swann to leave India in trouble on 85 for four. That brought in the dangerous Yuvraj Singh, who whacked a six off Swann with his first delivery. But although he smashed another massive shot off the spinner, Swann won their personal duel when Yuvraj was

stumped by James Foster for just 17.

It was a tense affair as India tried to claw their way back into the game. But despite a 63-run stand between Dhoni (30) and Yuvraj Pathan (33), they fell short on 150 for five. Earlier, England made a poor start with Wright falling in the second over. But Ravi Bopara and Kevin Pietersen, who top scored with 46 off 27 balls – including five fours and a six – put on 71 runs in nine overs.

Pietersen’s huge hit was England’s only boundary between the tenth and 15th overs as Harbhajan Singh pinned down the hosts. But ultimately their total proved enough as India were unable to find the gaps in a tight field, marshalled superbly by skipper Paul Collingwood.
{Source: Metro} & Image from Cricinfo