Player of the Match
Player of the Match

It was a long day. Over two hours of waiting but we got a full game. Thanks for your patience. Hope you had fun and to see you for the crowning of first-time champions or the re-crowning of the champions of the inaugural season. For now, it's goodbye from me, Ekanth, my co-commentator, Alan Gardner, and our scorers, Ranjith P and Venkat Raghav.

Jay: "Finalists are the teams who went through the tough NY pitches."

Naren: "Always a fan of his batting, now a fan of his talking as well. Go Rohit, the cup is waiting!"

Rohit Sharma, India captain: Very satisfying to win. Worked very hard as a unit and it was a great effort from all. We adapted really well, conditions were challenging. That's been the success story for us so far. If bowlers and batters adapt, things fall in place. At one stage, 140-150 looked par. But we got runs in the middle, SKY and I were going and thought we can get 20-25 more. I didn't want to give that away, wanted to let the batters play on instinct. 175 was a very good score, bowlers were fantastic. Axar, Kuldeep are gun spinners. Tough to play shots against them in these conditions. They were calm under pressure. We had a chat after the first innings, message was to keep stumps in play. That's what they did. (Kohli) We understand his class. Form is never a problem when you've played for 15 years. Probably saving for the final. We've been calm as a team. Final is a big occasion but being composed helps make good decisions. I thought today we were steady and didn't panic. That's been key. (Can they win an ICC trophy for the first time since 2013) We'll try our best, team is in good shape. All I can hope is to put up a good show come the finals.

Jos Buttler, England captain: India outplayed us. We let them get 20-25 runs too many on a challenging surface. Two years on, different conditions, credit to India. Deserve the win. (Toss-decision rationale) With the rain, didn't think it'd change much. Don't think it did, they bowled better. They've got fantastic bowlers. In hindsight, should've bowled Moeen the way the spin was playing. They had an above-par total and it was always a tough chase. Proud of everyone's effort in the comp. We've had a lot of adversity, played really good in patches

Axar Patel, POTM I've bowled in the powerplay in the past many times. Knew the wicket was assisting and didn't try too many things. Wicket is slow, so didn't want to push the pace too much. Batters told us wicket wasn't easy to hit on, so 150-160 was a good total. SKY-Rohit stand was magnificent. The way they played - take the odd boundary and rotate strike - was what we needed.

Deep: "Sure, success is measured in silverware, but when the red mist settles, Dravid and Rohit can reflect proudly on this 2023-24 season for having created a team that's truly all-format, all-weather brilliant."

The chase was always going to be tricky and early wickets would be vital. But so were runs as the low pitch was expected to get tougher to score off against a softening ball. Buttler tried to keep pushing in the powerplay but fell right after Axar's introduction. Salt was done in by a Bumrah slowy. Bairstow being bowled off Axar made it feel like 2021 all over again. Moeen, Curran fell right after the powerplay and that was the game mostly done. Kuldeep dismantled the lower-middle order and the tail was left too much to do.

4pm: So, the first-ever champions of the tournament will take on debut finalists for the crown in 2024. India had to slay the demons of 2022, along with weather issues, and did it in style. Rahul Dravid's coaching tenure can end on a historic note. Two years of evolution under Rohit's captaincy could finally get rewarded. Remember that sight from 2022 when he sat in the dugout with face buried in his hands after the 10-wicket drubbing? The opposite can be seen in the stands today, where he's sitting on the chair, with a glow from the sunshine hitting his face, as a team-mate walks up to congratulate. Talk about things coming a full circle.

Vishesh: "From 170/0 (16) to 103/10 (16.3)"

16.4
W
Bumrah to Archer, OUT, That's that. Archer has been given lbw, but he's reviewed. India won't get the full-blown visceral celebration but know they've got this.. He went across, front foot at cover, as the low fully hit the back boot which was in front of middle. Was the angle taking it too far? Bat not close, so that's no issue. Hawk-Eye shows it'd go on to clip leg stump. Third final in ICC tournaments in a year for India!

JC Archer lbw b Bumrah 21 (17m 15b 1x4 2x6) SR: 140.00

Sheela: "They should have sent Archer at No.4!"

16.3
1
Bumrah to Topley, 1 run, Length on middle and leg, Topley's in no mood to stay in front of the stumps. Backs away and tries to belt it over mid-on, edges it onto pad
16.2
1
Bumrah to Archer, 1 run, Length on off, steered with an open face to deep point
16.1
1
Bumrah to Topley, 1 run, Slower yorker attempted. Slower low fully delivered. Topley had made a lot of room and reached out to broom it to long-on

END OF OVER:
16 | 14 Runs 1 Wkt | ENG: 100/9 (72 runs required from 24 balls, RR: 6.25, RRR: 18.00)

  • Jofra Archer20 (13b)
  • Reece Topley1 (1b)
  • Hardik Pandya1-0-14-0
  • Axar Patel4-0-23-3

Varun: "Would be so poetic and cathartic if this also ends in 16 overs" Almost but they'll not have to sacrifice much

15.6
4
Pandya to Archer, FOUR, Slappage over extra cover. England's 100 is up. Wide and full from Pandya with mid-off up, and Archer helped himself by freeing his arms
15.5
1
Pandya to Topley, 1 run, Makes room to a back of lengther on middle and leg, heaves across, inside edges to deep fine leg

Deepak: "Adelaide 2022 avenged"

15.4
1
Pandya to Archer, 1 run, Into the pitch, Archer top edges a pull to long-on
15.3
6
Pandya to Archer, SIX, More clubbing from Archer, might as well take a few souvenirs. Gorgeous swing again, stood still, clattered it without fuss. Was almost like a shot Hardik plays
15.2
W
Pandya to Rashid, OUT, Remarkable athleticism from SKY. Thought that was Jadeja but no. He's a right hander but collected the ball while running to the other side and back-flicked it on the move like a left-hander as Rashid ran in vain.

AU Rashid run out 2 (2m 2b 0x4 0x6) SR: 100.00

15.1
2
Pandya to Rashid, 2 runs, Chops it to deep point

END OF OVER:
15 | 9 Runs 1 Wkt | ENG: 86/8 (86 runs required from 30 balls, RR: 5.73, RRR: 17.20)

  • Jofra Archer9 (10b)
  • Adil Rashid0 (0b)
  • Axar Patel4-0-23-3
  • Ravindra Jadeja3-0-16-0
14.6
0
Patel to Archer, no run, Chopped across to the off side
14.5
W
Patel to Archer, OUT, England's last hope gets barbecued. Livingstone ran three-fourth of the way to the other end, Archer came one-fourth before going back. Throw from short fine came at a full toss to Axar's left, who beat Livingstone to the race. Was a length ball close to off, cramped Archer for room and he underedged a cut past the left of the keeper. Looked like Livingstone called and came through but Archer hesitat

LS Livingstone run out 11 (24m 16b 0x4 0x6) SR: 68.75

14.4
6
Patel to Archer, SIX, This is at middle and Archer winds up and clubs it downtown. Golf swing with the toes pointing up
14.3
0
Patel to Archer, no run, Full and angling in from wide of the crease. Archer goes for the slog swipe over cow corner, gets hit on the pad
14.2
1
Patel to Livingstone, 1 run, Backs away and chops it to deep point
14.1
2
Patel to Livingstone, 2 runs, Goes across and tucks it off the front foot through midwicket. Quick running allows two

Asking rate over 15. England need a miracle now

END OF OVER:
14 | 4 Runs | ENG: 77/7 (95 runs required from 36 balls, RR: 5.50, RRR: 15.83)

  • Liam Livingstone8 (14b)
  • Jofra Archer3 (6b)
  • Ravindra Jadeja3-0-16-0
  • Kuldeep Yadav4-0-19-3
13.6
1
Jadeja to Livingstone, 1 run, Pulls it off a length to deep midwicket. Was a fullish length ball on off, and Liam got the front leg well out the way
13.5
1
Jadeja to Archer, 1 run, Caresses it off the back foot to deep point

Craig S.: "@Atish: Let us Saffas have our moment, we deserve a bit of luck after the long wait!"

13.4
0
Jadeja to Archer, no run, Jaffa. Fullish ball lands on leg and turns away sharply. Goes over top of middle. So huge bounce too
13.3
1
Jadeja to Livingstone, 1 run, Makes room and slaps the ball heading towards top of middle, to long-off

Julian : "Have India brought this pitch with them from home?" No, that was at New York and it came from Adelaide

13.2
1
Jadeja to Archer, 1 run, Chops it from outside off to deep point
13.1
0
Jadeja to Archer, no run, Archer unsure of whether that's coming in or going back. Stays in the crease and just about manages to work it back to the bowler

Around, slip in

END OF OVER:
13 | 2 Runs 1 Wkt | ENG: 73/7 (99 runs required from 42 balls, RR: 5.61, RRR: 14.14)

  • Liam Livingstone6 (12b)
  • Jofra Archer1 (2b)
  • Kuldeep Yadav4-0-19-3
  • Ravindra Jadeja2-0-12-0
12.6
0
Kuldeep Yadav to Livingstone, no run, Punches it off the back foot, from the crease, to Kuldeep's right
12.5
0
Kuldeep Yadav to Livingstone, no run, Using the crease well again. Kuldeep going close to the stumps, landing it wide on a length. Scoots low slowly, Liam rocks back and plinks a cut to cover
12.4
1
Kuldeep Yadav to Archer, 1 run, Archer goes back and tries to thrash it through cover. Underedges it towards short fine

England 2nd innings Partnerships

WktRunsPlayers
1st26JC ButtlerPD Salt
2nd8MM AliPD Salt
3rd1MM AliJM Bairstow
4th11MM AliHC Brook
5th3SM CurranHC Brook
6th19LS LivingstoneHC Brook
7th4CJ JordanLS Livingstone
8th14LS LivingstoneJC Archer
9th2AU RashidJC Archer
10th15RJW TopleyJC Archer

ICC Men's T20 World Cup

Super Eights, Group 1
TeamMWLPTNRR
IND33062.017
AFG3214-0.305
AUS3122-0.331
BAN3030-1.709
Super Eights, Group 2
TeamMWLPTNRR
SA33060.599
ENG32141.992
WI31220.963
USA3030-3.906
Group A
TeamMWLPTNRR
IND43071.137
USA42150.127
PAK42240.294
CAN4123-0.493
IRE4031-1.293
Group B
TeamMWLPTNRR
AUS44082.791
ENG42153.611
SCOT42151.255
NAM4132-2.585
OMA4040-3.062
Group C
TeamMWLPTNRR
WI44083.257
AFG43161.835
NZ42240.415
UGA4132-4.51
PNG4040-1.268
Group D
TeamMWLPTNRR
SA44080.47
BAN43160.616
SL41230.863
NED4132-1.358
NEP4031-0.542