The West Indies were knocked out of the ICC T20 World Cup on Sunday when they were thrashed by five wickets by defending champions, India. Thanks to Sanju Samson with 97 not out, the Indians romped to victory with just four balls to spare.
The 195 for 4 by the West Indies was the highest score against India in the 2026 tournament. As a result, India qualified for the semi-finals and will meet England in Mumbai on March 5.
The other semi-final will feature South Africa and New Zealand in Kolkata on March 4. The final is carded for March 8.
In a virtual quarter-final, the West Indies were asked to bat first and posted a competitive 195/4 in their 20 overs, riding on an unbeaten 35-ball 76-run partnership between Rovman Powell (34 not out off 19) and Jason Holder (37 not out off 22).
Jasprit Bumrah was the pick of the bowlers for India and finished with figures of 2/36.
India went on to pull off their highest run chase in T20 history after being powered by Samson’s stroke-filled 97 not out, which included 12 fours and four sixes.
Sanju Samson on his way to 97 not out on Sunday
India’s previous highest successful chase was 176/4, which came against South Africa in Mirpur at the 2014 edition.
The win placed India second on the Group 1 points table behind South Africa and confirmed the line-up for the semi-finalists.
West Indies began cautiously, with Roston Chase (40) and skipper Shai Hope (32) taking their time to settle into the match.
Chase earned a life on 14 when Abhishek Sharma grassed a chance off Bumrah, allowing the hosts to get through the power play without losing a wicket. However, disciplined bowling from India allowed only 45 from the first six overs.
The West Indies openers broke free in the next two overs, but Varun Chakravarthy reeled back the charge with the wicket of Shai Hope in the ninth over, breaking the 68-run partnership.
Shimron Hetmyer injected momentum with a brisk 27 off 12, only for Bumrah to strike twice and leave West Indies at 102/3 after 12 overs.
India reduced the scoring rate further with the dismissal of Sherfane Rutherford in the 15th, restricting West Indies to 125/4 heading into the last five overs.
However, Rovman Powell and Jason Holder smashed 70 in the final quarter of the West Indian innings to drag the score to a competitive finish.
India’s chase of 196 began with intent but also early jolts, slipping to 41/2 inside five overs.
Abhishek Sharma (10) fell to Akeal Hosein in the third over before Ishan Kishan (10) pulled Jason Holder straight to Shimron Hetmyer. However, opener Sanju Samson steadied the innings with a counter attack.
Samson imposed himself from the outset and found steady support from captain Suryakumar Yadav. The pair ensured India reached 98/2 at the halfway mark, needing exactly 98 more in the back 10.
However, Shamar Joseph dismissed Suryakumar Yadav before Roston Chase tightened the screws from the other end as West Indies gave away just six runs from the next two overs.
India needed 92 off 48 balls at 11.50 runs per over but Tilak Varma, with a brisk 27 off 15, took the pressure off Samson from the other end before perishing in the 15th over.
With 50 needed off 30, Samson, along with Hardik Pandya (17 off 14) and Shivam Dube (8 off four), used their experience to take the defending champions over the line.
Needing seven to win in the final over, Samson hit a six and four to complete the chase with four balls to spare but fell three runs short of what would have been his first T20 World Cup century
-FRANCIS JOSEPH
