Samson smashes India into England semi-final

Co-hosts beat West Indies in final over, with last-four game in Mumbaion Thursday

- Simon Burnton Mumbai

For the third time in three T20 World Cups, England will meet India in the semifinals, after the co-hosts beat West Indies in what was in effect a quarterfinal last night to seal their place in the final four and eliminate their opponents.

Sanju Samson, who lost his place in the side before the tournament but who was recalled after India’s humbling Super 8s defeat by South Africa, batted through the innings to finish unbeaten on 97. Chasing 196, the co-hosts looked in control with the 31-year-old at the crease and he hit the winning runs, lifting his 50th delivery overmid-on toseal victory by five wickets, with four balls remaining.

After West Indies were putin to bat Roston Chase, opening for the first time in T20 internationals, powered the start of their innings in partnerships of 68 off 53 with Shai Hope, and 34 off 16 with Shimron Hetmyer - the latter pairing ended when Jasprit Bumrah dismissed both ina single over - while Jason Holder and Rovman Powell added 76 off the last 35 balls. But they were undermined by Hope’s pedestrian innings of 32 off 33 and by a series of fielding errors, including three dropped catches.