Yuvraj Singh spearheaded a command batting performance that kept India's semifinal hopes alive after an 18-run win over England in the Twenty20 World Cup.

The left-hander blitzed six sixes in an over off Stuart Broad on his way to the fastest half-century in Twenty20 history, off just 12 deliveries, turbo-charging India to a massive 218 for four from their 20 overs.
Yuvraj's (58, 16b, 3x4, 7x6) sensational assault came after openers Gautam Gambhir and Virender Sehwag had both completed well-crafted half-centuries, justifying Mahendra Singh Dhoni's decision to bat first.

Already eliminated before this encounter when South Africa defeated New Zealand earlier on the day, England made a brave fist of it with decent contributions through the order, but there wasn't one innings around which they based their chase. In the end, Paul Collingwood's men settled for 200 for six, an impressive effort any which way you look at it, but simply not enough on the day.

India must now defeat the Proteas on Thursday night to force a three-way tie alongside the hosts and New Zealand at the top of the Super Eight Group E standings, and expect to sneak into the semifinals on nett run-rate.

As commanding as India's batting effort was, the bowling was sub-par, debutant Joginder Sharma in particular a huge letdown as he went for 57 from his four overs. The catching too was ordinary as two simple chances were put down. India had the luxury of 218 on the board, and could afford these lapses — the last five overs again produced 65 runs — but against a clinical South African outfit, that will be an invitation for disaster.
India's innings didn't explode into overdrive straightaway. With the track still fresh despite hosting its second match of the day and the ball new, there was considerable seam movement for the pacemen, and Gambhir and Sehwag wisely chose to play themselves in.

Grand style
The first four overs produced just 23, the first boundary didn't arrive until the 5th over. When the floodgates opened, though, there was no stopping India as the openers from Delhi, and then Yuvraj stamped their authority in grand style.

To the innings of the day. Yuvraj hasn't spent too much time in the middle so far, therefore hasn't scored too many. When he arrived in the middle after 16.4 overs, there was no time for a sighter. He had to get going straightaway, and that's exactly what he did.

Warming up with a screaming cover drive off Chris Tremlett, he then smashed Andrew Flintoff for two fours in the following over, triggering an exchange of words that necessitated the intervention of umpire Billy Doctrove. As if in response, he cut loose with breathtaking effect.

The hapless Broad knew not what hit him as he joined Dutchman Daan van Bunge as the only bowlers to concede six sixes in an over in international cricket. Neither a change of length nor a change in angle helped; batting like a man possessed, Yuvraj had an answer to every feeble question Broad posed.

The beauty of the Yuvraj attack lay in its simplicity. There were no pre-meditated heaves, no attempt to move around in the crease or try anything cute. Every stroke came out of the book, each a genuine cricketing one. It was an innings of brutal beauty, if there is something like that. Even the Englishmen ought to have admired that knock, such was the mesmeric touch to it.

Magnificient base
Yuvraj was fortunate in that Gambhir and Sehwag had set a magnificent base through intelligence first, and then all-out assault. Sehwag was the more circumspect of the two to start with, just as he was the more aggressive once the openers decided it was time to have a go. A majority of his boundaries came on the off-side as he made room and struck the ball cleanly in his favoured arc, while Gambhir too found the off-side fence with great regularity as the two added 136 (88b).

Yuvraj then came and did his bit. He and Dhoni put on 61 (19b) for the fourth. The skipper's contribution — a princely three! What fun!!

SCORE BOARD
INDIA
Gambhir c Broad b Maddy 58
(41b, 7x4, 1x6)
Sehwag b Tremlett 68
(52b, 4x4, 3x6)
Uthappa b Tremlett 6
(4b, 1x4)
Dhoni (not out) 10
(8b)
Yuvraj c Collingwood b Flintoff 58
(16b, 3x4, 7x6)
I Pathan (not out) 0
(0b)
Extras (LB-7, W-10, NB-1) 18
Total (for 4 wkts, 20 overs) 218
Fall of wickets: 1-136 (Sehwag), 2-144 (Gambhir), 3-155 (Uthappa), 4-216 (Yuvraj).
Bowling: Anderson 4-0-25-0 (w-4), Broad 4-0-60-0 (w-2), Flintoff 4-0-33-1 (w-1), Mascarenhas 1-0-15-0, Tremlett 4-0-45-2 (w-3, nb-1), Collingwood 1-0-13-0, Maddy 2-0-20-1.
Scoring pattern: 5 overs: 35/0; 10: 90/0; 15: 138/1; end of innings: 218/4 in 20 overs.
Runs during Power Play: 1-6 overs: 41/0.

ENGLAND
Maddy c Gambhir b I Pathan 29
(20b, 3x4, 1x6)
Solanki c Joginder b I Pathan 43
(31b, 5x4, 1x6)
Pietersen c & b Harbhajan 39
(23b, 3x4, 1x6)
Collingwood b RP Singh 28
(20b, 2x4, 1x6)
Shah c Joginder b RP Singh 21
(12b, 3x4, 1x6)
Flintoff (not out) 8
(4b, 1x4)
Wright c Harbhajan b I Pathan 16
(9b, 1x4, 1x6)
Mascarenhas (not out) 0
(0b)
Extras (LB-5, W-11) 16
Total (for 6 wkts, 20 overs) 200
Fall of wickets: 1-53 (Maddy), 2-96 (Solanki), 3-126 (Pietersen), 4-170 (Shah), 5-170 (Collingwood), 6-196 (Wright).
Bowling: Sreesanth 4-0-38-0 (w-1), RP Singh 4-0-28-2 (w-3), Joginder 4-0-57-0, I Pathan 4-0-37-3 (w-1), Harbhajan 4-0-35-1 (w-6).
Scoring pattern: 5 overs: 45/0; 10: 94/1; 15: 135/3; end of innings: 200/6 in 20 overs.
Runs during Power Play: 1-6 overs: 57/1.