Sanju Samson and skipper Suryakumar Yadav run between wickets. (ANI Photo)

NEW DELHI: A night of reckoning at the Eden Gardens turned into a night of redemption for Sanju Samson, and skipper Suryakumar Yadav could not have scripted it better.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!With India’s T20 World Cup Super Eight campaign hanging by a thread, Samson smashed an unbeaten 97 off 50 balls to power India to a five-wicket win over West Indies, sealing a semifinal berth. Under scrutiny after a lean run, Samson answered every question in style — and his captain made sure the world knew it.

“Obviously, it’s a great feeling. The way we played, it was a do-or-die, like a quarter-final game, and the way the boys showed character, I think it was a great thing,” Suryakumar said after the match.But it was his heartfelt words on Samson that stole the spotlight.“See, I always say, good things happen to good people who wait, who have a lot of patience. I said it just now as well when I met him. But then it’s all his hard work, what he’s been doing behind the doors when he was not playing, and he’s got the fruit of it at the perfect stage. And the way he batted, took the side completely to victory.”Chasing 196 after West Indies posted 195/4 — powered by late fireworks from Jason Holder and Rovman Powell — India stumbled early to 41/2 in the powerplay. But Samson stood tall, blending timing with audacity. Small partnerships, especially a crucial 42-run stand with Tilak Varma (27 off 15), kept the chase alive.Suryakumar revealed the clarity in the dressing room. “I feel everyone bowled according to plans. We knew 200 is always a good score to chase here with the dew and the ball coming on nicely. And the way the batters responded later on with small partnerships, that was the key.”The skipper also addressed the mounting pressure. “Expectations will always be there, but you should always know what you have to do on the field. I told the boys that there will be pressure… but in games like this, you have to be courageous and take positive options whenever under pressure. When there’s no pressure, there is no fun.”Samson’s 97* is now India’s second-highest individual score in T20 World Cups, behind only Suresh Raina’s 101, and marks the first time he has remained unbeaten in a T20I chase.“Very happy to be there,” Surya smiled about the semifinals. “The way we played in the first game, we deserve that spot.”India next face England in the semi-final at Wankhede stadium in Mumbai on Thursday.

West Indies’ players after their win against Zimbabwe. (AP Photo)

NEW DELHI: Former India captain Anil Kumble believes West Indies have shown they possess the qualities needed to win the T20 World Cup at the business end, while warning that India now face a difficult road to the semi-finals after their heavy defeat to South Africa.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!West Indies sent a strong message to the rest of the field with a dominant 107-run demolition of Zimbabwe, piling up a staggering 254/6 before bowling their opponents out for 147. The performance impressed Kumble, who said the Caribbean side demonstrated a clear understanding of how to succeed in knockout-style situations.

“The West Indies understand what it takes to win at this stage of the tournament. The left-arm spinners were outstanding. Gudakesh Motie bowled brilliantly. In this format, finger spinners often try to stay away from the batter’s hitting arc, but Motie and Hosein were different,” Kumble said on JioHotstar.He also singled out Shimron Hetmyer’s explosive 34-ball 85 as the turning point. “Shimron Hetmyer has long been a finisher and knows how to clear the boundaries. He has the power and the temperament. What stands out is that he doesn’t settle for quick cameos of 20 or 30. He converts them into substantial scores. Had he fallen for 30, perhaps the West Indies wouldn’t have reached 254,” Kumble explained.

Kumble added that Rovman Powell’s calculated assault made the total even more formidable. “Powell is again a proven power-hitter. He took his time initially, but once he settled, he was unstoppable.”Turning to India’s situation, Kumble admitted the margin and manner of their loss to South Africa had made things complicated. “Every game counts at this stage. India suffered a significant loss… The key question now is whether they can bounce back strongly.”He stressed that India must now win big. “India needs to win convincingly, much like the West Indies did… The primary focus should be on winning both matches.”

West Indies’ Shimron Hetmyer celebrates his fifty (AP Photo/Bikas Das)

Shimron Hetmyer produced a blistering knock to propel West Indies to a competitive 182 for 5 in their second T20 World Cup match against Scotland at Eden Gardens, Kolkata, on Saturday. The left-hander smashed 64 off just 36 deliveries, anchoring the innings after a shaky start. Scotland arrived at the tournament amid unusual circumstances, having been drafted in only two weeks earlier after Bangladesh pulled out of the competition, citing security concerns over travelling to India. Despite the short notice, the Scots showed early discipline after winning the toss and opting to bowl.

Their bowlers kept two-time champions West Indies in check during the Powerplay, applying pressure with tight lines. Brandon King was the first to break free, launching Safyaan Sharif for a six and two fours in the seventh over to inject momentum. King eventually made 35 before Scotland struck back. Off-spinner Michael Leask provided the breakthrough, dismissing captain Shai Hope for 19. Soon after, debutant left-arm spinner Oliver Davidson claimed his maiden T20 wicket when King was caught at backward point. Hetmyer then took charge of the innings, launching a fierce counterattack against the Scottish bowling. He cleared the ropes six times and stitched together a rapid 81-run partnership off just 37 balls with Rovman Powell, who contributed 24. Hetmyer raced to his half-century in only 22 balls, bringing it up with a six. It was the fastest fifty ever scored by a West Indies batter in a T20 World Cup. Although Powell fell during the closing overs, the aggression did not drop. Hetmyer continued to find the boundary alongside Sherfane Rutherford, who struck a quick 26 from 13 balls. Hetmyer’s innings ended when Safyaan Sharif forced a miscued hit that was brilliantly caught by Brandon McMullen at long-on. Rutherford departed on the first ball of the following over. Left-arm seamer Brad Currie was Scotland’s most economical bowler, finishing with figures of 2 for 23. Reflecting on his innings, Hetmyer admitted the conditions were testing. “It was good and bad, because of how hot it was. I don’t know about anybody else, but I asked the umpire, he said he didn’t feel it as much, but I guess getting back to playing in a day-night,” he said. Speaking about his partnership with Powell, Hetmyer highlighted the clarity in approach. “It was just batting with a clear mind really. Every ball pitched up, you could take a chance and if not just try to limit dot balls, that’s something that we speak about as a group and as a batting unit as well. To limit the dot balls as much as possible. And because we are a boundary hitting team, everyone knows that, but it’s just the singles and the dot balls where we kind of fall short just a little bit and it’s nice that it came off in our favour today.” Hetmyer also credited improved fitness for his performance. “I would like to think so (fitter). At home I did some work. I have my trainer which is my wife at home that kind of pushes me to go the extra mile and so far, it’s been working out quite well and I’m just happy to be on the park and contributing to the team as much as I can.”