England knocked OUT of 2026 T20 Cricket World Cup after losing to India by seven runs in the semi-finals

England are out of the T20 Cricket World Cup after suffering an agonising defeat by tournament co-hosts India on Thursday.

Chasing 254, a record in this competition, to setup a final showdown with New Zealand, England fell seven runs short as they ended on 246-7 in their 20 overs.

However, the 2010 and 2022 champions came close led by a stunning 105 from Jacob Bethell off just 48 deliveries.

The 22-year-old, who impressed in the final Ashes Test in January by scoring 150, kept England afloat from 63-3 and 95-4 and took boundaries from the final two balls of the 17th over to leave 45 to get from the final three.

Bethell’s brilliance meant England were ahead of India at the same stage after 17 overs but some nerveless death bowling from Jasprit Bumrah and Hardik Pandya left Bethell with too much to do as India progress to Sunday’s showpiece.

Bethell, who joined Jos Buttler, Dawid Malan and Harry Brook as English men’s centurions in all three formats, clubbed eight fours and seven sixes but England were ultimately outmuscled by India in a third successive T20 World Cup semi-final meeting between the teams.

Sanju Samson top-scored for India with 89 off 42 balls after being given a reprieve on 15 by England captain Harry Brook when he spilled a simple chance to dismiss him in the third over.

All of England’s bowlers were flogged for at least 10 an over – with Jorfa Archer’s 1-61 the most expensive figures in his side’s history at this tournament.