India produced a comprehensive performance at Edgbaston to beat England by 49 runs to take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match T20I series.
India rocked the powerplay against England with the new opening pair of Rohit Sharma and Rishabh Pant. The partnership was already at 49 in 4.4 overs when England debutant Richard Gleason turned the tide.
A short ball earlier got him the wicket of Indian captain R Sharma for 31. Then Virat Kohli did not walk on the ground he was out for 1 run, he tried a big shot but only got a top lead. On the very next ball, he got the wicket of Rishabh Pant for 26 runs, which would put the batsman directly in the hands of Jos Buttler. Gleeson would end with figures of 3/15 from his four overs in what was a stunning debut performance.
Ravindra Jadeja’s batting knock helps India to a respectable total
India will continue to struggle in the middle overs, losing wickets at normal intervals. Chris Jordan will strike twice, dismissing Suryakumar Yadav and Hardik Pandya in back-to-back deliveries.
Dinesh Karthik also could not last long and was run out after scoring 12 runs. The responsibility now rests on Ravindra Jadeja’s shoulders, to hold the Indian innings together and take them to competitive scores. And he fulfilled his responsibility very well.
All-rounder R Jadeja hit five fours in a brilliant counter-attack of 46* off just 29 balls. His effort helped the visitors reach the 170-run mark, giving their bowlers a target to defend.
The Pacers put England on the back foot
Chasing the target, England were expecting a good start from their openers. The brilliance of Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Jasprit Bumrah, however, took India firmly to the top of the powerplay. Bhuvneshwar dismissed Jason Roy in the very first ball and then took the crucial wicket of Jos Buttler.
Liam Livingstone looked in devastating touch but would be undone by a brilliant off-cutter from Bumrah. England would lose three wickets in the powerplay and would never recover during their chase
India prevail despite Moeen, Willey’s cameos
The flurry of wickets would continue after the Powerplay. Harry Brook would be outfoxed by Yuzvendra Chahal, who would then scalp the wicket of Dawid Malan for 19. Bumrah would get his second by dismissing Sam Curran. Chris Jordan (1) and Richard Gleeson (2) and Matt Parkinson (0) could not hang around long at the crease.
For England, the only positive in the batting would be cameos from Moeen Ali and David Willey. Moeen Ali timed the ball beautifully, scoring 35 runs in 21 balls, which included three fours and two sixes. David Willey also put up a resolute fight while remaining unbeaten on 33.
But that was not enough, as India would go on to win by 49 runs, a comfortable one, taking an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series.
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