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NEW DELHI: Sanju Samson’s sublime fifty and a spell of sheer brilliance from Jasprit Bumrah on a batting-friendly surface helped India clinch a thrilling seven-run victory over England, as the defending champions marched into the T20 World Cup final on Thursday.

Sanju Samson (89 off 42) overcame the Jofra Archer challenge with a slice of luck to register his second successive fifty, propelling India to a mammoth 253 for seven — the highest total ever recorded in a knockout match in the tournament’s history.

It was a daunting total at Wankhede, but Jacob Bethell (105 off 48) spearheaded England’s fightback with a magnificent century after they had lost three wickets in the powerplay for 68 runs.

In the end, Bumrah’s crucial contribution (1/33 in 4 overs) in the death overs ensured India restricted England to 246/7 in their 20 overs.

India will now face New Zealand in the title clash in Ahmedabad on Sunday.

Tom Banton (17 off 5) became the fourth wicket to fall but the sixes kept flowing, pushing England to 119 for four at the halfway stage, matching India’s score after 10 overs.

Varun Chakaravarthy once again proved to be the weakest link in the attack as he struggled to find the right length on an unforgiving pitch, conceding 64 runs in his four overs.

Bumrah, Axar deliver in key moments

Bumrah had earlier dismissed the dangerous Harry Brook in the powerplay with a clever slower cutter, while Axar Patel pulled off a sensational backward running catch from the cover region.

With Will Jacks (35 off 20) and Bethell launching a counterattack in the middle overs, another brilliant piece of fielding from Axar in the deep sent Jacks back, ending a 77-run partnership that came off just 39 balls.

Sam Curran joined Bethell at the crease and the equation was reduced to a gettable 45 off the last three overs, prompting Suryakumar Yadav to bring Bumrah back for his final over of the match.

Bumrah delivers again as England fall short

The Indian pace spearhead delivered yet again, conceding only six runs in the over. With both Arshdeep Singh and Bumrah having completed their quotas, Shivam Dube was handed the responsibility of defending 30 runs in the final over.

England’s hopes eventually ended with a heartbreaking run-out of Bethell, who had played a truly memorable innings.

Samson wins Archer battle with slice of luck

After single-handedly guiding India to the semifinals, a supremely confident Samson (89) tore into the England bowling attack, including Archer, who had dominated the Indian opener in their battles during last year’s bilateral series.

Having lost the toss on a ground with short boundaries, India needed a big total and Samson ensured they got one after being dropped by Harry Brook on 15 off Archer in the third over.

England had already dismissed Abhishek Sharma in the previous over and Samson’s wicket at that stage would have placed India under pressure. However, Brook dropped a straightforward chance at mid-on, leaving Archer stunned.

That moment proved costly for England as Samson made them pay, smashing seven sixes and eight fours in a scintillating knock.

Dismissed three times by Archer last year when he struggled against short balls aimed at his body, Samson countered the England pacer with a flurry of pull shots this time.

He quickly picked up the length and was also aided by a slightly erratic Archer, who bowled too short in his opening two-over spell.

Samson’s first six off Archer came with a pull over fine leg before he dispatched a slower delivery from the pacer over deep mid-wicket for another maximum.

Samson also stitched together a 97-run partnership off just 45 balls with Ishan Kishan (39 off 19), who too capitalised on England’s inconsistent bowling.

India raced to 67 for one in the powerplay and continued the assault to reach 119 for two at the halfway mark.

Shivam Dube (43 off 25) was promoted to number four to maintain the left-right combination after Kishan fell to Adil Rashid.

At the other end, Samson remained equally aggressive against the rest of the bowlers including Sam Curran and Jamie Overton.

Archer returned for his second spell only to be punished again by Samson. The opener first smashed him for a six over backward point and then followed it up with another maximum over long-off.

Archer eventually finished with expensive figures of 61 runs in four overs as Tilak Varma (21 off 7) added to England’s misery with three sixes in the 19th over.

England opted for the off-spin of Will Jacks in the final over and Hardik Pandya (27 off 12) took him apart with a couple of towering sixes.

The final five overs produced 76 runs, pushing India to a formidable total.

(With PTI Inputs)