‘Dreadful cricket’: England humiliated, eliminated by India at World Cup

England has fallen apart in its World Cup semi-final against India with one “calamitous” moment saying it all.

India has hammered defending champions England by 68 runs to set up a T20 World Cup final showdown against South Africa.

England, who beat India by 10 wickets in the 2022 semi-finals, collapsed to 103 all out chasing 172 for victory in Guyana, with spinners Kuldeep Yadav (3-19) and Axar Patel (3-23) sharing six wickets between them.

Earlier, India posted 171-7 in a rain-interrupted innings after losing the toss with captain Rohit Sharma making 57 — his third fifty of the tournament — and Suryakumar Yadav 47.

Patel was named man of the match.

England’s run chase never got going with wickets falling every few overs before they were put out of their misery when the tenth wicket fell after just 16.4 overs.

One particular moment summed up their chase when Liam Livingstone was run out at the non-strikers end after being sent back by Jofra Archer.

Archer had moved the ball just to the side of a fielder behind the wicket and was called through by Livingstone, only for Archer to overrule his teammate, despite the decision clearly being Livingstone’s to make.

England fell apart. Photo: Sky Sports and Gareth Copley/Getty Images.

India celebrates the dismissal of Jonny Bairstow. Photo by Randy Brooks / AFP.

Sky Sports described it as “calamitous”.

Former England fast bowler Steven Finn said Archer should have “fallen on his sword”.

Cricket commentator Geoff Lemon said on the BBC: “That is dreadful cricket. It was not Archer’s run to call”.

England captain Jos Butler gave credit to his opposition after the game.

“India certainly outplayed us. They fully deserved their win,” he said.

“We let them get 20-25 runs too many. It was a challenging surface that they played well on.

“I don’t think the toss was the difference between the teams. They out-bowled us and had an above-par score.”

South Africa overwhelmed Afghanistan by nine wickets in the first semi-final on Thursday to book their place in Saturday’s final in Barbados.

Both India and South Africa have yet to lose a match at this tournament and walk into Sunday morning’s final full of confidence.

India will be bidding for their first major title since winning the 2013 Champions Trophy, having lost on home soil to Australia in last year’s 50-over World Cup final.

— with AFP