Ahmedabad: After making a stumbling start, India set an example of their spirit and determination winning the T20I series 3-2 against England after beating them by 36 runs in the final game on Saturday.
A couple of swashbuckling knocks from two heavyweights Virat Kohli (80) and Rohit Sharma (64) at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad led India to post a total of 224/2 before Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s (2/15) resilient spell inspired India a dominating win in the series decider.
Saved our best for the decider!
A fabulous batting display in the final and #TeamIndia have posted a massive 224-2 after losing the toss and being asked to bat first.https://t.co/esxKh1iZRh #INDvENG @Paytm pic.twitter.com/NjZp0RgJfo
— BCCI (@BCCI) March 20, 2021
Chasing a mammoth 225, England lost Jason Roy for a duck in the second ball of their innings. But then, Jos Buttler coupled with Dawid Malan started running havoc making the men in blue scratch their heads in frustration smashing them all over the park. A 130-run stand between the duo changed the momentum in such a way that it looked like the visitors would chase down the target easily.
However, the pendulum shifted towards India in the 13th over as Bhuvneshwar put brakes on the railing innings removing Buttler for 52 before Shardul Thakur struck twice sending Malan (68) and Johny Bairstow putting the Men in Blue right back on top. With the asking rate too much to get with very few balls left, England failed to keep up the fight eventually ending their innings at 188/8.
Earlier, India started the innings going full steam after being asked to bat by the visitors. A surprise opening pair of skipper Kohli and Rohit started tearing the English bowling from the word go. Both of them eventually got their half-centuries the latter got dismissed setting up the base. Quickfire cameos from Surya Kumar Yadav(32) and Hardik Pandya (39) power India to an impressive 224/2 in 20 overs.
