Lendl Simmons was a late replacement, but he led a charmed life to blast an unbeaten 82 and carry the West Indies to a thrilling seven-wicket victory over India in the second semi-final of the World Twenty20, the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, on Thursday.
Included in the side for the injured Andre Fletcher, Simmons was caught twice, on 18 and 50, but both times the bowlers had overstepped for no-balls.
In the end India were left ruing the let-offs, first by Ravichandran Ashwin -- when the batsman was on 18 in the seventh over -- and then Hardik Pandya -- when he was on 58 in the 15th over -- with the West Indies cruising at 132 for three.
He made the hosts pay dearly for their mistakes and earned the 2012 winners a meeting in the final against England, champions in 2010, on Sunday.
The West Indies lost Chris Gayle and Marlon Samuels early in their reply but opener Johnson Charles kept them in the hunt with a 36-ball 52 and a third-wicket stand of 97 with Simmons.
The right-handed Simmons, who plays for Mumbai Indians in the Indian Premier League, was only called into the squad two days ago.
He cracked seven fours and five sixes off 51 balls and added an unbeaten 80 with Andre Russell for the fourth wicket to take the West Indies home with two balls to spare.
Russell, known for his powerful hitting, contributed 43 off 20 deliveries.
Earlier, Virat Kohli continued his rich vein of form by smashing an undefeated 89 to guide India to 192 for two after they were put in to bat.
The West Indian bowlers began strongly, allowing the home team just six runs in the first couple of overs but India then took control in front of a stadium filled to the brim with fans wearing the team's blue jersey.
India, the inaugural champions in 2007, dropped under-performing opener Shikhar Dhawan and the move paid off as Rohit Sharma (43) and Ajinkya Rahane (40) put on 62 for the first wicket.
That laid the perfect foundation for Kohli, who led his side into the last four with 82 not out against Australia in the previous match, as he compiled a third unbeaten half-century in the tournament.
Kohli began nervously, twice going close to being run out, but made the opposition pay for failing to take their chances.
He struck 11 fours and a six in his 47-ball knock, putting on 66 for the second wicket with Rahane and an unbroken 64 for the third with captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni (15 not out).
