Mumbai: Sanju Samson was at it again.
Team India’s hero in the virtual quarterfinal against the West Indies at Eden Gardens four nights ago made merry at the Wankhede Stadium on Thursday, this time in the semifinal against England.
The enigmatic opener, who was not part of India’s playing XI at the start of the T20 World Cup campaign, followed up his matchwinning unbeaten 97 with another stoke-filled knock of 89, which came off 42 balls, studded with 8 fours and 7 sixes.
Samson, dropped on 15 by captain Harry Brook, made England pay dearly.
Samson’s carnage was ably complemented by cameos from Ishan Kishan (39 off 18, 4×4, 2×6), Shivam Dube (43 off 25, 1×4, 4×6), Hardik Pandya (27 off 12, 3×4, 2×6) and Tilak Varma (21 off 7, 3×6) as the men in blue posted an imposing 253/7 in 20 overs.
It was the highest total by any team in a T20 World Cup knockout game.
