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Rediff.com  » Cricket » PICS: India whip England in decider to win series 3-2

PICS: India whip England in decider to win series 3-2

Last updated on: March 20, 2021 23:47 IST
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Images from the fifth Twenty20 International between India and England, in Ahmedabad, on Saturday.

Virat Kohli celebrates after completing 50 during the fifth T20I against England

IMAGE: India’s skipper Virat Kohli celebrates after completing 50 during the fifth T20I against England, in Ahmedabad, on Saturday. Photograph: BCCI

India produced an impressive display with bat and ball to defeat England by 36 runs in the fifth Twenty20 International and win the series 3-2, in Ahmedabad, on Saturday.

Rohit Sharma's blistering 64 off just 34 balls and skipper Virat Kohli's unbeaten 80 laid the foundation for India's massive total of 224 for 2.

 

Suryakumar Yadav, 32 off 17 balls, Hardik Pandya, 39 not out off 17 balls, also made vital contributions.

In reply, England, despite fine knocks from Dawid Malan (68) and Jos Buttler (52), were restricted to 188 for 8 for in their 20 overs.

Shardul Thakur finished with figures off 3 for 45, but India's star performer with the ball was Bhuvneshwar Kumar, with one for 15 in four overs, including 17 dot balls.

Rohit Sharma Rohit did the bulk of the scoring in his 94-run partnership with Virat Kohli

IMAGE: Rohit Sharma did the bulk of the scoring in his 94-run partnership with Virat Kohli. Photograph: BCCI

Having lost the toss for the fourth time in the series, India were predictably put in to bat by Eoin Morgan, but the pair of Rohit and Kohli, who opened the innings, blazed away, scoring 64 and an unbeaten 80 respectively as England went on a leather hunt.

Jofra Archer and Mark Wood had troubled the Indians with their extra pace in earlier matches, but on Saturday Rohit and Kohli sent them to the cleaners during their 94-run stand.

The other major contributions for India came from Suryakumar Yadav (32 off 17 balls) and Hardik Pandya (39 not out off 17 balls).

Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma celebrate a six

IMAGE: Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma celebrate a six. Photograph: BCCI

Barring Ben Stokes and Adil Rashid, all the England bowlers leaked more than 10 runs per over, with Chris Jordan (0/57) being the most expensive.

India went in with an extra bowling option in left-arm pacer Natarajan, who shared the pace burden with Bhuvneshwar, Thakur and Pandya

Ben Stokes 
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IMAGE: Ben Stokes celebrates with his England teammates after dismissing Rohit Sharma. Photograph: BCCI

England opened the bowling with leg-spinner Rashid, while India's two best batsmen -- Rohit and Kohli -- opened the batting for India.

And, as expected, the pair gave India the perfect start, making most of the Powerplay to race to 60 without loss in six overs.

Rohit stroked his way to 35 from 21 balls, while Kohli scored 17 from 15 balls.

Suryakumar Yadav scores a boundary

IMAGE: Suryakumar Yadav scores a boundary. Photograph: BCCI

India were going at over 10 per over, putting up 81 for no loss in eight overs.

Rohit soon brought up his fifty with a six off just 30 balls.

But Ben Stokes provided England some relief, dismissing Rohit, bowled off an inside edge, after a sensational knock of 64 off 34 balls, which included five sixes and six fours.

Rohit gave India the perfect platform, dominating a 94-run opening stand with Kohli, who played second fiddle with 22 from 20 balls.

Virat Kohli lofts the ball over the ropes

IMAGE: Virat Kohli lofts the ball over the ropes. Photograph: BCCI

Thereafter, it was a run-riot as Kohli blazed away in the company of Suryakumar Yadav.

Adil Rashid checked the Indian assault by dismissing Suryakumar. The hero of India’s victory in the fourth T20 stroked a quickfire 32 from 17 balls before lofting Rashid down the ground only to see Chris Jordan run to his right and take a one-handed catch.

Hardik Pandya attempts to hit a bouncer

IMAGE: Hardik Pandya attempts to hit a bouncer. Photograph: BCCI

The momentum took Jordan over the rope, but he showed great presence of mind to flick the ball to Jason Roy, who completed a sensational relay catch.

New-man in Hardik Pandya also got into the thick of action, blazing away an unbeaten 39 off 17 balls, including four fours and two sixes, as India finished on a mammoth 224 for 2 in their 20 overs, scoring 67 from the last five overs.

Kohli was unbeaten on a splendid 80 from 52 balls, which included seven fours and two sixes.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar celebrates the wicket of Jason Roy

IMAGE: Bhuvneshwar Kumar celebrates the wicket of Jason Roy. Photograph: BCCI

England needed a blazing start from openers Jason Roy and Jos Buttler, but it was India who tasted success early.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar struck with his second delivery. Roy played all over the incoming delivery, trying to swing it over the leg side, missed and was bowled for a duck.

Dawid Malan scores a boundary

IMAGE: David Malan scores a boundary. Photograph: BCCI

England were 0-1 after just two deliveries, but new-man in Dawid Malan and Buttler settled down to prop the innings.

Malan raced to his fifty from 33 balls, while Buttler brought up his half-century off 30, as England put up 127 in 12 overs, needing of another 98 from eight overs for victory.

Malan then completed 1000 runs in T20 Internationals in his 24th innings -- the quickest to get to the landmark.

Jos Buttler hits a boundary

IMAGE: Jos Buttler hits a boundary. Photograph: BCCI

However, Bhuvneshwar got the breakthrough with the key wicket of Buttler, who holed out to long-off after a good innings of 52 from 34 balls, having put on 130 runs for the second wicket.

Bhuvneshwar, who conceded just three runs while picking up the wicket of Buttler, had wonderful figures of 2 for 9 in three overs, including 13 dot balls at that stage.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar celebrates the wicket of Jos Buttler

IMAGE: Bhuvneshwar Kumar celebrates the wicket of Jos Buttler. Photograph: BCCI

Things were getting really difficult for England with 89 needed from six overs for victory. They needed to score at nearly 15 per over.

Shardul Thakur, back into the attack, pegged them back further.

Jonny Bairstow, trying to smash Thakur over the off-side, ended up offering a simple catch to Suryakumar at sweeper cover and perished for seven.

England were 140-3 in the 15th over, and things got worse for them when Malan was out three balls later.

Thakur cleaned up Malan with the knuckle ball. The batsman looked to swing it over the leg side but was foxed by the change of pace and bowled.

Shardul Thakur ocelebrates the wicket of Dawid Malan

IMAGE: Shardul Thakur celebrates the wicket of Dawid Malan. Photograph: BCCI

Malan was out after a good knock of 68 from 46 balls and England four down for 142.

Skipper Eoin Morgan lasted just four balls offering a simple catch to substitute KL Rahul at long-on to fall for 1 off Pandya’s bowling.

From then on it was all over bar the shouting as Ben Stokes lasted just 10 balls for 14.

Natarajan got the edge from Stokes and had him caught behind.

Thakur got his third wicket in the form of Jordan and Sam Curran made a contribution of 14 as England finished with 188 for 8.

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