The penultimate match of the T20I Series between India and England saw India win by 8 runs to level the series at 2-2 and make up for an entertaining final match
England won the toss and elected to field as they decided to chase down the target again. England named an unchanged eleven from the previous game, while India made two changes with SuryaKumar Yadav and Rahul Chahar coming in for Ishan Kishan and Yuzi Chahal.
India got off to a frantic start as Rohit Sharma opened the innings with a six of the very first ball signalling the intention of Indian Batsmens. However just like the entire series, India didn't got a good start as Rohit Sharma was dismissed in a soft way after being caught and bowled by Jofra Archer despite showing good signs.
It has been a series to forget so far for KL Rahul. He looked good though in today's game mostly playing second fiddle to SuryaKumar Yadav who was making full use of the opportunity smashing ball all over the park.
Just as it looked like India will have good partnership, two quick wickets of KL Rahul and Virat Kohli, with the latter being stumped shifted the momentum to England.
SKY was then joined Rishabh Pant. The duo took it slow trying to bring India back into the game. SKY got his reward for his brillant innings in the form of a maiden T20I fifty as he showed why not selecting him in the squad would be a bad idea.
He added 57 runs of 31 balls with 6 fours and 3 sixes. He was caught out in the deep square leg. After several replays from the third umpire, he was judged out as it seemed that Malan had taken a sharp catch.
Shreyas Iyer then walked out in the middle. The aggressive gameplay continued as India managed 140/4 in 16 overs. With four overs left to go, India lost Pant in the 17th over after being clean bowled by Jofra Archer. With the dew factor finally showing up for the first time in the entire series, it was going to be hard for the spinners to bowl.
As wickets kept on tumbling at regular intervals, India managed to add 45 runs scoring 185 with a cameo from Iyer of 37 runs from 18 balls with 5 fours and one six,but lost 4 wickets as well as they finished the innings with 185/8 in 20 overs with Archer picking up two wickets in the last over finishing with figures of 4-33 in 4 overs.
For England, previous game's hero Jos Buttler was unable to continue where he left off as he departed quickly. England just scored 2 runs in the first two overs as they tried to analyze the pitch. In the next four overs of the powerplay, they added 46 runs as all the pressure from the slow start evaporated.
The pendulum then swang in India's favour at the end of the 8th over as Rahul Chahar dismissed D Malan. In the next over India then got the much needed wicket of Jason Roy who was looking dangerous. Roy missed out another half century, as he contributed 40 runs off 27 balls with 6 fours and 1 six. At the end of the 9th over England were 66/3.
However the pendulum then swang in England's favour as Ben Stokes and Johnny Bairstow played attacking strokes as they added 65 runs in 6 overs to bring England back into the game. Bairstow contributed 25 runs of 19 balls before departing in the 15th over. At the end of the 15th over, England's score was 131/4.
Ben Stokes who was playing a magnificent innings was then joined by skipper Eoin Morgan in the runchase. With 9 runs from the 16th over, England found themselves in the exact position as India with 140/4 after 16 overs.
In the first ball of the 17th over, Shardul Thakur dismissed Ben Stokes. He tried to lob the over long off but was unable to clear the rope and was caught out by SKY. His inning of 46 runs from just 23 balls with 4 fours and 3 sixes had added a flare into this runchase. At the next ball Thakur then got the better of Eoin Morgan as the momentum completely switched towards India. Morgan tried to lob it over off side but ended up hitting it straight in the hands of Washington Sundar at sweeper cover.
By the end of the 18th over, Hardik Pandya bowled Sam Curran as England were reduced to 153/7. They needed 33 runs in the last two overs to win.
The 19th over from Bhuvenshwar Kumar,gave England 10 runs which saw a boundary of the last ball. England then needed 23 runs of the last 6 balls. A single, a four and a six from the first 3 balls swang the pendulum once again as 13 runs came off in the first 3 balls.
Two back to back wides reduced the equation to 10 runs of 3 balls. At the next ball, Archer tried to slam the ball out, instead his bat broke down. Though only a single followed with the equation remaining 9 runs and 2 balls. Chris Jordan tried to slam it out of the park but didn't got the connection and found Hardik Pandya at the long off ending England's hope for the win as India claimed the match by 8 runs as England could only manage 177/8.
0 Comments