Virat Kohli's brilliant knock failed to save India as flown-in Lendl Simmons star in his first match to help West Indies set up final date with England. After losing Chris Gayle early in the second innings, Simmons along with Johnson Charles and Andre Russell make a mockery of 193-run target in front of a packed-Wankhede Stadium crowd with who's who of Indian cricket in attendance.
India's cause was also undone, in parts, by two no-call wickets, with man-of-the-match Simmons being the beneficiary of those missed chances.
Thus, both the Caribbean teams -- women's and men's -- have enter the finals making a memorable year for themselves. Last month their Under-19 team beat the Indian colts to win the junior world cup.
WEST INDIES INNINGS
Over 19.4 || Score 196/3 (Simmons 83; Russell 43); Target 193
Bowl to Virat Kohli for the final over.
A single to Lendl Simmons. A dot ball followed. Then Andre Russell found the gap and a four. Then, Russell finished the job with a huge six, over the mid-wicket.
West Indies won the match by seven wickets, with two balls remaining.
Over 19 || Score 185/3 (Simmons 82; Russell 33); Target 193
A dot to start the 18th over. A single to Andre Russell. Cross batted straight shot. Another single followed. Good work from Ravindra Jadeja to stop the straight drive.
Then, a length ball, vanishing into the crowd. Huge six over the long-on boundary.
MS Dhoni summoned the bowler and Ashish Nehra. Deep talk, before the fifth ball. But it went for a four. 12 runs from the over and the equation, 8 off six, for a place in final.
Over 18 || Score 173/3 (Simmons 81; Russell 22); Target 193
Two good deliveries, slower deliveries from Jasprit Bumrah. First, into the body, then wide off the wicket. Another slower delivery and another dot.
Tempting. And Lendl Simmons lofted high, targeting the mid-wicket boundary. But a jugaldaldi between Ravindra Jadeja and Virat Kohli seemed to have spelt the end of Simmons, but Jadeja's foot touch the rope. A six instead to West Indies.
That six also completed 50 run partnership between Simmons and Andre Russell in 27 balls.
Good fielding from Hardik Pandya at extra cover boundary. Two runs. Then, a slice by Simmons went for a four to make it a 12-run over.
West Indies need 20 runs from 12 deliveries.
Over 17 || Score 161/3 (Simmons 69; Russell 22); Target 193
Finally, MS Dhoni brought in experienced Ashish Nehra. A single to start the over, followed by another single.
A dot ball, then a six. Short ball and dispatched over the mid-wicket boundary, by Andre Russell.
10 runs from the over, and Nehra completed his spell. His figures read 4-0-25-1.
Windies need 32 runs from 18 balls. Still anybody's game, but Windies look favourites.
Over 16 || Score 151/3 (Simmons 67; Russell 14); Target 193
Windies continue to pummel Indian bowlers.
A single to start the over, followed by a dot ball. Then, Lendl Simmons, who let off twice, hit a four. Two singles, and a six to end the over. 13 runs from the over.
Over 15 || Score 138/3 (Simmons 56; Russell 12); Target 193
Huge over for West Indies. 18 runs from Hardik Pandya, which also included a no-ball wicket. Two sixes, a four and two singles. Windies need 55 runs from 30 balls.
Over 14 || Score 120/3 (Simmons 50; Russell 1); Target 193
Virat Kohli, the bowler, removed dangerous Johnson Charles. Stroke of luck, or. Whatever. He is the man of the moment now.
Charles lofted the first ball high, and Rohit Sharma completed the catch at mid-on.
WICKET: Johnson Charles c Rohit Sharma b Virat Kohli 52 (36b)
Meanwhile, Lendl Simmons completed his 50, off 35 balls.
Four runs and a wicket. Credit to MS Dhoni for taking the risk. Andre Russell is the new man.
Over 12 || Score 104/2 (Charles 50; Simmons 37); Target 193
Panic in Indian camp. Johnson Charles and Lendl Simmons have not only kept the contest alive, but also challenged the home team with some hittings.
Seven runs, including a four of the second ball, from the over as Hardik Pandya completed three of his four overs.
Windies need 89 more runs from 48 balls.
Over 11 || Score 97/2 (Charles 46; Simmons 35); Target 193
Asking to be hit, and get the treatment it deserved. A six over the square leg boundary to start the over.
A dot ball from Ravindra Jadeja. Then, Lendl Simmons cut the third ball for a four.
With ball coming nicely to the bat, West Indies batsman are creaming the Indian bowlers.
A contentious full toss settled with a single. 13 runs from the over. Windies need 96 more runs from 54 deliveries. Will they miss Keiron Pollard?
Over 10 || Score 84/2 (Charles 45; Simmons 23); Target 193
Hardik Pandya started his second over with a dot ball to Johnson Charles. It was followed by a six, which was confirmed after replays, over short third man. Lucky for the opener.
It was followed by a short and wide delivery, which was treated pretty well by Johnson. A four to the backward square leg boundary.
A single, a leg bye and dot ball followed. 12 runs from the over.
Over 9 || Score 72/2 (Charles 34; Simmons 23); Target 193
Ravichandran Ashwin continued. And the experienced spinner continued to leak runs.
The over started with a huge six over mid-wicket by Johnson Charles. A dot ball, then he hit a four.
A single, then a dot ball. Lendl Simmons played a lofted cover drive, but a brilliant Ravindra Jadeja restricted to two runs. 13 runs from the over.
Charles and Simmons have added 53 runs in six overs. Match still alive.
Over 8 || Score 59/2 (Charles 23; Simmons 21); Target 193
Hardik Pandya on for India. Good first over, mixing good length deliveries with short ones. That was until the fifth ball. Johnson Charles, after facing a well directed ball, played a pull shot for a four.
Eight runs from the over. Windies need another 134 runs from 12 overs.
Over 7 || Score 51/2 (Charles 17; Simmons 19); Target 193
What a miss. Jasprit Bumrah took a brilliant, diving catch. But Ravichandran Aswhin overstepped, and gave Lendl Simmons a life. That happened in the fifth ball of the over.
Free hit. A yorker. No run.
The over started with a single to Johnson Charles, then Simmons played a late cut for a four. Seven runs from the over.
Over 6 || Score 44/2 (Charles 16; Simmons 14); Target 193
Spin for India. MS Dhoni introduced Ravindra Jadeja, and he leaked 11 runs.
The over started with a single to Johnson Charles, then Lendl Simmons ran a 2. He hit the third ball for a huge six, over the long-off boundary.
Two dot balls, and a skier, landing at short fine leg. Two runs.
Windies need 149 runs more from 14 overs.
Over 5 || Score 33/2 (Charles 15; Simmons 4); Target 193
Ashish Nehra in the middle of a good spell. Five runs from his third over.
Three dot balls, then a single to Johnson Charles. Then, Lendl Simmons played a brilliant shot for a four to the square leg.
Over 4 || Score 28/2 (Charles 14; Simmons 0); Target 193
Good over for West Indies with Johnson Charles hitting two back-to-back fours.
Jasprit Bumrah, however, responded well to concede a single off the following four balls to make it a nine-run over.
West Indies need another 165 runs from 16 overs.
Over 3 || Score 19/2 (Charles 5; Simmons 0); Target 193
Ashish Nehra removed Marlon Samuels. The West Indies batsman failed to read the ball, a normal length ball, and scooped the ball for an easy catch at cover. Ajinkya Rahane took the catch.
WICKET: Marlon Samuels c Ajinkya Rahane b Ashish Nehra 8 (7b)
That happened in the last ball of the over. Lendl Simmons is the new man. Five runs and a wicket from the over.
Over 2 || Score 14/1 (Charles 1; Samuels 8); Target 193
What a start from the young Jasprit Bumrah. He produced a perfect swinging yorker to uproot Chris Gayle's off stump. First ball, a wicket. Credit must be given to skipper MS Dhoni for putting slips.
WICKET: Chris Gayle b Japrit Bumrah 5 (6b)
Marlon Samuels, just arrived, took a dot ball before playing a controlled pull shot for a four. He then finished the over with a gentle looking cover drive, which raced through cover for another four.
Eight runs and that big wicket of Gayle from the over.
Over 1 || Score 5/ (Charles 1; Gayle 5); Target 193
Ashish Nehra started the defence with a single to Johnson Charles, which brought Chris Gayle to strike. Good bowl to the dangerous left-handed batsman, with the ball shaping away at the last moment. An inside edge, no run.
Another outswinger, for a another dot.
Gayle then played a pull shot off the back foot. No chance for Indian fielders, with ball racing to mid-wicket boundary.
Six runs from the over.
INDIA INNINGS
Over 20 || Score 192/2 (Kohli 89; Dhoni 15)
A powerful flick, but only a single to MS Dhoni, to start the final over. Virat Kohli then lofted a skier, which initially looked like going for a six. But Marlon Samuels made a mess out of it at deep deep mid-wicket. Two runs from it.
A single, then another missed run out chance after Dhoni mistimed his shot, for a 3.
It was followed by a flat shot for a four through mid-off boundary, even as Kohli stooped and looked to check if the ball had outside the rope.
A single to end the over and innings. 12 runs from the over.
Over 19 || Score 180/2 (Kohli 81; Dhoni 11)
Andre Russell on for his fourth and last over. Started well with a single to MS Dhoni. Virat Kohli then picked a 2, after running down backward point.
Kohli creamed the next ball for a six, over the mid-off boundary. It was followed by another 2. These two Indian batsmen are running like men possessed.
Kohli played a trademark lofted cover drive for a four. It was followed by a straight drive of pure class.
19 runs from the over, and Russell's figures read 4-0-47-1.
Over 18 || Score 161/2 (Kohli 63; Dhoni 10)
MS Dhoni missed a slow full toss. He glanced to the fine leg and there found a fielder. A single to start the over.
It was followed by two singles, than Virat Kohli picked up the slower delivery, and the ball hung in the air for some time. But indecision from mid-off fielder, who was patrolling the boundary, allowed the ball to went pass and a four. Carlos Brathwaite looked confused.
A dot ball, then Kohli picked the perfect gap to find another four, this time towards mid-on.
Dwayne Bravo leaked 11 runs in his third over.
Over 17 || Score 150/2 (Kohli 54; Dhoni 8)
Pure genius. MS Dhoni picked the ball from wide off the off stump and played a scoop shot to find the short fine leg boundary. It was followed by a 2. With six runs from the first two deliveries, he gently took a single.
Then, Virat Kohli played a pull shot, for a four, behind square. It was followed by a uncharacteristic loopy shot, which landed in the vacant area of mid-on. Two runs and yet another fifty to Kohli, off 33 deliveries.
The over ended with a thick edge for a four, behind the wicket. 17 runs from the over.
Carlos Brathwaite, thus, ended his quota four overs for figures of 4-0-38-0.
Over 16 || Score 133/2 (Kohli 44; Dhoni 1)
A yorker to start Andre Russell's third over. No run. Virat Kohli played the next ball for a single. Then a wicket for West Indies. Ajinkya Rahane holed out at square leg boundary. Good catch, Dwayne Bravo and he had champion dance to celebrate.
WICKET: Ajinkya Rahane c Dwayne Bravo b Andre Russell 40 (35b)
That happened in the third ball of the over. Skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni promoted himself ahead of usual no. 4 Suresh Raina.
Good over for West Indies. Six runs and a wicket.
Over 15 || Score 127/1 (Rahane 40; Kohli 40)
Carlos Brathwaite continued for his third over. Two singles from the first two balls, then Virat Kohli hit the hard ground, and the ball raced for a four, through square.
Seven runs from the over.
Over 14 || Score 120/1 (Rahane 39; Kohli 34)
That's how Virat Kohli milk off target deliveries. Wide and short, and he dispatched the first ball of the over to the square boundary.
A single followed, then a 2. Good running between the wickets continue for India as West Indies fielders seemed to have wilted under the pressure. Ajinkya Rahane played behind the square for that 2.
Two singles more and 11 runs from the over. India have scored 44 runs in the last five overs, at an rate of 8.80. And the second-wicket partnership now worth 58 off 40 balls.
For Windies, Sulieman Benn also completed his spell, for figures of 4-0-36-0.
Over 13 || Score 109/1 (Rahane 36; Kohli 26)
Dwayne Bravo returned for his second over. Two singles from the first two deliveries, and 100 up for India.
It was followed by a 2, good running between the wickets, with Virat Kohli on strike. Full toss and Kohli dispatched it for his second four of the day. Good attempt at deep square leg boundary by Andre Russell, but it proved to be a futile attempt, with his feet touching the ropes.
A single to Kolhi, and 11 runs from the over.
Over 12 || Score 98/1 (Rahane 35; Kohli 16)
Virat Kohli took a single to start the over. It was followed by a calculated 2 from Ajinkya Rahane, playing in the gap, towards the mid-on.
A single off a good pull shot. Four more singles. And six runs from the over. Thus Sulieman Benn ended three overs, conceding 25 runs.
Over 11 || Score 92/1 (Rahane 31; Kohli 14)
Good running from the two Indian batsmen in the middle. A single to Ajinkya Rahane to start the over. He then responded to a tight run to complete a 2. A single to Virat Kohli.
Rahane played a flick shot, but found Samuel Badree. No run. Two more singles, and six runs from Carlos Brathwaite's second over.
Over 10 || Score 86/1 (Rahane 29; Kohli 10)
Another busy over. 10 runs from Samuel Badree's last over. His figures 4-0-26-1.
The over started with a wide, drifting down the leg side. Two runs followed from Ajinkya Rahane's blade. A dot ball, then two singles from the next two deliveries.
Then, Rahane played his best shot so far, a pull shot, racing through the mid-wicket for a four. A single to end the over. 10 runs.
Over 9 || Score 76/1 (Rahane 21; Kohli 9)
What an over. All happening.
Dwayne Bravo producing the goods, mixing his deliveries well. A slower delivery to Ajinkya Rahane for a single. Then, Virat Kohli faced two well directed bouncer, with the second one judged a no-ball. Free hit.
Then a possible fatal mixed up off the freebies. And Kohli survived a run out chance, in fact two. Kohli missed the yorker, and ran for a single. But he was sent back by Ajinkya Rahane, with Denesh Ramdin and Bravo missing the target from either side.
Another run out chance, with Kohli on the danger end. Just made it, thanks to some diving effort.
It was followed by a lucky four off Kohli's blade, with ball racing through third man area. Two runs, and 10 runs from the over.
Over 8 || Score 66/1 (Rahane 20; Kohli 1)
Rohit Sharma departed after giving a solid start to India. Failed to read the straighter from Samuel Badree. LBW.
WICKET: Rohit Sharma lbw b Samuel Badree 43 (31b)
That happened in the second delivery of the over, after a dot ball.
Virat Kohli took a single off the first delivery he faced. Four runs and a single. Good one for West Indies.
Over 7 || Score 62/0 (Rohit 43; Rahane 17)
Sulieman Benn continued, and a tidy spell from the left-arm spinner. A dot ball to start the over, then Indian openers rotated the strike for three balls.
Ajinkya Rahane took two twos of the last two deliveries. Seven runs from the over.
Over 6 || Score 55/0 (Rohit 41; Rahane 12)
Andre Russell returned for his second over. He started with a nippy, straight delivery which caught Rohit Sharma inside the crease.
Then, a loose delivery. Full toss, which was dispatched with disdain, over the long leg boundary. A huge six and also a no ball.
Rohit then lofted the extra delivery straight. Another huge six. And it's India's best opening so far in the tournament.
Then the openers rotated the strike, before Rohit play a pull shot for four. The over ended with a cover drive, for a single though.
20 runs from the over.
Over 5 || Score 35/0 (Rohit 23; Rahane 11)
A single to start Samuel Badree's first over. Then, Ajinkya Rahane found a thick edge while attempting to play inside out. Gone for four, third man area. He followed it up with a good pull shot, but good fielding by Dwayne Bravo at mid-off restricted to only two.
Two more singles, and nine runs from the over.
Over 4 || Score 26/0 (Rohit 21; Rahane 4)
Sulieman Benn continued. Lucky 2 for India. Almost offered a catch, a difficult one to slip fielder. The left-arm spinner is so far impressive, extracting enough bounce.
After a dot ball, Rohit hit back-to-back fours, first one a delectable cover drive, then the second one a well-timed sweep shot.
It was followed by a single. 11 runs from the over. 20 runs in these two overs.
Over 3 || Score 15/0 (Rohit 10; Rahane 4)
Glimpses of old Rohit Sharma! The right-handed batsman played through the line, picking up early, and the ball flew over the long on boundary. Good start to the over.
A dot ball followed. extra bounce, well left.
Then, a single to Rohit. Ajinkya Rahane responded with another single. Good running, stole a single after gently tugging to the mid-off fielder.
Nine runs from the over.
Over 2 || Score 6/0 (Rohit 2; Rahane 3)
Spin on, as expected. Samuel Badree started his spell with a single to Ajinkya Rahane. Fortunate for Rohit Sharma, beaten by googly. A single. Two dot balls, then Rahane took a single, played calmly towards square leg.
Rohit took a single of the last ball. Four runs from the over.
Over 1 || Score 2/0 (Rohit 1; Rahane 1)
Andre Russell started the proceeding, ball deviating to the leg, which was played or rather fended off by Rohit Sharma. No run. Russell then produced a beauty. Ball shaping away, just enough to trouble the Indian opener. No run.
Then, a misfield and India opened the account. Samuel Badree, the culprit.And that brought Ajinkya Rahane on strike for the first time in the tournament. Extra bounce, and Rahane off the block. A single.
Two singles from the over.
National anthems round done. This is the only the second time India had won the toss in this tournament. Two Mumbaikars opening for India. And they will hope to change their opening woes.
So here are the playing XIs:
India: Rohit Sharma, Ajinkya Rahane, Virat Kohli, Suresh Raina, Mahendra Singh Dhoni (capt. & wk), Manish Pandey, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, Jasprit Bumrah, Ashish Nehra
West Indies: Johnson Charles, Chris Gayle, Marlon Samuels, Lendl Simmons, Denesh Ramdin (wk), Dwayne Bravo, Andre Russell, Darren Sammy (wk), Carlos Brathwaite, Samuel Badree, Sulieman Benn
TOSS: MS Dhoni flipped the coin, and heads call from Darren Sammy. West Indies will bowl first. And surprise, local boy Ajinkya Rahane replaced out-of-form Shikhar Dhawan, Manish Pandey in for injured Yuvraj Singh.
Chris Gayle, who sat out of the Afghanistan match, returned. Evin Lewis sits out. Lendl Simmons who was flown in to replace injured Andre Fletcher plays.
Today's match officials:
Umpires - Ian Gould (ENG) and Richard Kettleborough (ENG)
Third umpire - Marais Erasmus (RSA)
Match referee - Chris Broad (ENG)
Reserve umpire - Michael Gough (ENG)
Meanwhile, West Indies women's team beat New Zealand to make their maiden World T20 final. They will play overwhelming favourites and reigning champions Australia in the title clash.
Here are the key facts ahead of the match:
World T20 head to head: West Indies won twice; India won once in four meetings
INDIA
World ranking: One
Coach: Ravi Shastri
Best overall performance: Champions (2007)
Road to semi-final:
* Lost to New Zealand by 47 runs
* Beat Pakistan by six wickets
* Beat Bangladesh by one run
* Beat Australia by six wickets
Top scorer: Virat Kohli (184 runs)
Top wicket-taker: Hardik Pandya (five wickets)
WEST INDIES
World ranking: Three
Coach: Phil Simmons
Best overall performance: Champions (2012)
Road to semi-final:
* Beat England by six wickets
* Beat Sri Lanka by seven wickets
* Beat South Africa by three wickets
* Lost to Afghanistan by six runs
Top scorer: Andre Fletcher (106 runs)
Top wicket-taker: Andre Russell (seven wickets)
PREVIEW
History beckons for both India and West Indies. Whichever side wins today in Mumbai will have a shot at the title and become the first side to win the ICC World T20 title for the second time.
India, after winning the inaugural edition in 2007, have since played one more final, losing to Sri Lanka in the last world cup. Lankans themselves have won the title after third final appearance.
For West Indies, it will be their second final, if they manage to beat the home side. That's about the final, and a shot at the title.
Besides, both the sides have consistently featured in the semi-finals. That's why everybody is talking about the big final, jumping to the conclusions, even before the actual semi-final.
But what today? That's the big question.
The meeting of two of the most consistent T20 International sides, in a winner takes all match, is what everyone is waiting for. And add the Indian Premier League (IPL) factor, then the second semi-final becomes all the more intriguing.
It's like two home teams taking on each other. These West Indies side has a veritable globe trotting super stars in their ranks. In the much celebrated IPL, which in fact starts within a week's time, has season after season featured Carribean dream-merchants for franchises. And they have performed, becoming heroes for legions of fans.
The likes of Chris Gayle and Dwayne Bravo have become de facto Indians, so to say, with unfathomable fan followings, thanks to their cricket and also free-wheeling life styles.
When they take on the Indians, it sure becomes one of the most anticipated matches, yes second only to the politically charged India-Pakistan matches.
Thus arrived the pertinent question of home advantage and favourites billing.
It's obvious though that India start as the favourites. There are talks of the all-important playing turf fine-tuning to suit the Indian chord.
But again, the all-too familiar Indian conditions have made hosts' home advantage redundant thanks to the aforementioned fact.
So, it's about the players themselves. How will each of the elevens from either side performed on the day that matters.
Both the sides of more than enough match-winners on their respective camps. Virat Kohli, Gayle, MS Dhoni and Dwayne Bravo can win matches single-handedly. And there are many more players who can change the course of any match, at any given time.
And considering the nature of T20 cricket, anybody can become the hero and everyone is a prospective hero.
Here are the squads:
India: Mahendra Singh Dhoni (capt. & wk), Ravichandran Ashwin, Jasprit Bumrah, Shikhar Dhawan, Harbhajan Singh, Ravindra Jadeja, Virat Kohli, Mohammed Shami, Pawan Negi, Ashish Nehra, Hardik Pandya, Ajinkya Rahane, Suresh Raina, Rohit Sharma, Yuvraj Singh.
West Indies: Darren Sammy (capt.), Samuel Badree, Sulieman Benn, Carlos Brathwaite, Dwayne Bravo, Johnson Charles, Lendl Simmons, Chris Gayle, Jason Holder, Ashley Nurse, Denesh Ramdin (wk), Andre Russell, Marlon Samuels, Jerome Taylor, Evin Lewis.
New Delhi: Welcome to our live coverage of the second semi-final of 2016 ICC World Twenty20 between hosts India and West India, being played at Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai.
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