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  "path": "/news/1977119/samsons-97-puts-india-into-t20-world-cup-semi-final-against-england",
  "publishedAt": "2026-03-01T17:49:37.000Z",
  "site": "https://www.dawn.com",
  "tags": [
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    "beat"
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  "textContent": "Sanju Samson’s sparkling unbeaten 97 kept alive India’s dream of retaining the T20 World Cup at home as they knocked out the West Indies with a five-wicket win in Kolkata on Sunday to set up a semi-final against England.\n\nSamson hit 12 fours and four sixes in his superb 50-ball knock in the winner-takes-all final Super Eights match to thrill a capacity 67,000 fans at a pulsating Eden Gardens.\n\nAfter the West Indies smacked 70 off the last five overs to score 195-4 after being asked to bat, India lost two early wickets but were always up with the required rate.\n\nSamson, opening for the second match in succession, led the way.\n\nWhen India slipped to 41-2, he was joined by captain Suryakumar Yadav (18) and the pair added 58 for the third wicket.\n\nTilak Varma was next to join Samson and scored 27 off 15 before departing in the 15th over with the score 141-4 and India still needing 55.\n\nSamson stood firm and though Hardik Pandya fell for 17, India reached the target with four balls to spare to spark celebrations and fireworks.\n\nJason Holder and Rovman Powell earlier put on an unbroken stand of 76 for the fifth wicket to help the West Indies set the defending champions a target of 196 to stay alive.\n\nThe West Indies sprang a surprise at the top of the order, promoting Test captain Roston Chase to open alongside T20 skipper Shai Hope.\n\nThat enabled them to bring in an extra spinner, Akeal Hosein, with regular opener Brandon King left out.\n\nIn their defeat to South Africa last week, the West Indies slumped to 83-7 but the new-look opening partnership was more assured.\n\nSpinner Varun Chakravarthy got the first breakthrough, bowling Hope for a sluggish 32.\n\nShimron Hetmyer raced to 27 off 12 balls before falling to the faintest of edges off Jasprit Bumrah to make it 102-2.\n\nAfter Chase fell for 40 and Sherfane Rutherford followed, Powell and Holder launched their brutal late assault.\n\nPowell finished on 34 not out from 19 balls with two sixes and three fours, while Holder was unbeaten on 37 off 22 balls with three sixes and two fours.\n\nIt could have been better for India but they dropped three regulation catches in a sloppy fielding display, including Chase when he had made just 15.\n\nSouth Africa, the only unbeaten side in the tournament, beat Zimbabwe by five wickets earlier on Sunday and will face New Zealand in Kolkata in the first semi-final on Wednesday.\n\nThe final is in Ahmedabad next Sunday.",
  "title": "Samson’s 97 puts India into T20 World Cup semi-final against England"
}