England storms into final

ALEX Hales and captain Jos Buttler shared a record unbroken opening partnership as a ruthless England humiliated India by 10 wickets in Adelaide to storm into the T20 World Cup final.

England, who won the 50-over World Cup on home soil in 2019, can now become the first team to hold both global trophies in white-ball cricket when they meet Pakistan in Sunday’s final at the MCG.

They have rehabilitated opener Hales and skipper Buttler to thank as the pair chased down 169 for victory with four overs to spare, silencing a huge crowd of India supporters.

Hales finished on 86 not out from 47 balls, and Buttler, who was unbeaten on a 49-ball 80, completed the statement win in style, blasting paceman Mohammed Shami over his head for six.

“It certainly feels (a perfect match) against a top quality opposition,” said Buttler.

“We came in very excited and there was a good feel around the group ... I thought everyone, from one to 11, stood up today.”

Put into bat after Buttler won the toss, Rohit Sharma’s India started slowly under tight English bowling, and it was left to Hardik Pandya (63) and Virat Kohli (50) to mount a rescue, pushing them to 168 for six.

The total seemed a tad below par and soon looked piffling as Hales and Buttler went to work, the pair blasting 23 boundaries between them.

Their 170-run stand was the biggest opening partnership in T20 World Cup history and England’s biggest for any wicket at the tournament.

It set up a mouthwatering duel against Pakistan, 30 years on from the teams’ 50over World Cup final in 1992 at the MCG which the south Asians won.

For Player-of-the-Match Hales, it was a night of redemption, having missed out on England’s 2019 triumph after a recreational drug scandal. ■