England have been set 169 to seal a place in the T20 World Cup final after Virat Kohli continuing his love affair at Adelaide was followed by Hardik Panya’s boundary-laden finish for India.
The absences of injured duo Mark Wood and Dawid Malan – replaced by Chris Jordan and Phil Salt – might have unsettled England but they were able to restrict India to 80 for three after 13 overs.
Adil Rashid impressed again but Kohli’s 50 off 40 balls at a ground where he averages just over 75 in all formats was important, before Pandya clicked into gear after a cautious start.
India set us 1⃣6⃣9⃣ to win
Can we chase it down? ?
Scorecard: https://t.co/xtNZOGgaxP#T20WorldCup | #EnglandCricket pic.twitter.com/R6v31BQOLI
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) November 10, 2022
Pandya was on four off nine balls at one point but he crashed five sixes and four fours in his 63 off 33 deliveries, largely responsible for India adding 88 in the last seven overs to post 168 for six.
Jordan had a mixed return to the side, claiming the wickets of Rohit Sharma, Kohli and Pandya, who peculiarly trod on his stumps from the last ball of the innings, but the fast bowler also leaked 43 runs.
Rashid, who took one for 16 in England’s must-win group game against Sri Lanka, claimed one for 20 here, collecting the wicket of dangerman Suryakumar Yadav, out attempting to clear the short square boundary.
England’s death bowling, successful in their run to the last four, came in for punishment, with Sam Curran also going at more than 10 an over.
England have been successful in just four of their 13 chases this year, most recently against Sri Lanka on Saturday to book a top-two spot in their Super 12s group, but captain Jos Buttler had no hesitation in bowling first after winning the toss.
The winner of this fixture will take on Pakistan in the tournament’s marquee match at the MCG on Sunday.
