T20 World Cup: Pitches dominate as India, South Africa advance

India defeated defending champions England in a one-sided semi-final at the T20 World Cup on Thursday in Guyana, booking their place in the tournament’s final.

They join South Africa, who also won a lop-sided affair on Wednesday night, thrashing Afghanistan to make their maiden T20 World Cup final.

For India, the 68-run victory further confirms their pre-tournament favourites tag, as online bookmakers have consistently pegged them as the side most likely to lift the trophy.

Rohit Sharma shines again

Once again, it was captain Rohit Sharma who led from the front and provided India with an excellent platform against England.

Having been sent into bat first after England won the toss, Sharma got straight to work.

The opener slashed a boundary off the second ball of the match, carrying on where he left off from after making 92 (41) against Australia.

He was measured across his 57 runs this time, batting through to the 14th over and capitalising on any loose bowling.

Sharma found company from Suryakumar Yadav for the majority of his knock. The fiery middle-order batsman plundered 47 from 36 himself.

Once Sharma fell, all-rounders Hardik Pandya and Ravindra Jadeja added the finishing touch, contributing 23 (13) and 17 (9) respectively.

In response, England were ambitious but unsuccessful.

Phil Salt, Moeen Ali, Jonny Bairstow and Sam Curran all fell for single figures, leaving the defending champions reeling by the eighth over.

While Jos Buttler and Harry Brook did their part, putting on 48 from 34 between them, the damage was done.

Indian spinners Axar Patel and Kuldeep Yadav both capitalised on yet another challenging pitch, extracting three wickets each to send England packing from the T20 World Cup.

India clear favourites in final

Cricket bookmakers have installed India as -222.22 favourites to win the 2024 T20 World Cup final, which takes place on Saturday night in Barbados.

South Africa, who will be competing in their first major final since winning the now-defunct ICC Champions Trophy in 1998, are paying +175 with Bovada.

The men in blue are unbeaten this tournament, having now won seven of seven completed matches. They also had a washout against Canada.

All signs point towards India lifting their first T20 World Cup trophy since claiming the inaugural title in 2007.

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