Indian Takeaway

GH watches Harry Brook drop the cup

The T20 World Cup has never been won consecutively or by a host. India have the opportunity to tick off both firsts in the final at Ahmedabad in three days’ time, having overcome England in a run-soaked semi-final, separated by only seven, although decided perhaps by a single chance.

Samson’s Fight with the Lion - Cranach

‘Catches win matches, don’t they?’ said Harry Brook afterwards. Unaccepted catches can certainly lose them. England’s captain shelled a decidedly catchable chance at mid-on from Sanju Samson off Archer: Samson was then 15 off 6 going on 89 off 42. Brook wouldn’t have dropped a tray of glasses. This was culpable.

Later, 7 off 6, Brook miscued Jasprit Bumrah’s first ball over the ring, only for Axar Patel to take a full-length diving catch running backwards. It was as though the game was administering a moral lesson.