Kolkata: The Indian cricket team delivered a commanding performance in the first T20 of their home series against England, securing a 7 wickets victory with 43 balls to spare at Eden Gardens, Kolkata. The win not only showcased the World Champions dominance in the shorter format but also set the tone for the remainder of the series.
Batting first, England posted a low score total of 132 runs, powered by a lone half century from the British Captain Jos Butler 68 runs from 44 balls. Varun Chakravarthy’s 3-wickets haul managed England to restrict a low score. Arshdeep Singh, Hardik Pandya and Axar Patel put up a valuable contributions in bowling, taking up 2 wickets each. India, in response finishing the game in 12.5 overs. Abhishek Sharma’s fiery 79 runs in just 34 balls, make an easy chase against the visitors.
Speaking after the match, skipper Surya Kumar Yadav lauded his team’s all-round performance. “Our bowlers were exceptional today, and the batters built a good start and great partnerships. It’s a great start to the series.”
The second T20 match of the series is scheduled to begin at the Chennai on January 26.
Brief Scores:
England: 132/10 (20 Overs)
Jos Butler: 68 (44 balls)
Varun Chakravarthy: 4-0-23-3
India: 133/3 (12.5 Overs)
Abhishek Sharma: 79 (34 balls)
Jofra Archer: 4-0-21-2
Result: India won by 7 wickets.
Player of the Match: Varun Chakravarthy
