India registers comfortable victory over England by 8 wickets; takes 1-0 lead

NewsBharati    13-Jul-2018
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Trent Bridge, July 13: Indian cricket team on Thursday registered a comfortable victory over England by 8 wickets in the first One Day International of the three-match series at Trent Bridge, Nottingham. Notably, chinman Kuldeep Yadav's six-wicket haul and Rohit Sharma's unbeaten 137 led India to have victory and 1-0 lead in the series.

 

After winning the toss and electing to bowl, Virat Kohli and India were immediately met with two in-form batsmen in Jonny Bairstow and Jason Roy. England got off to an excellent start, quelling the threat of India quicks Umesh Yadav and Siddarth Kaul with an assured, positive approach, before dangerous wrist-spin sensation Yadav entered the frame, tempting Roy into an awkward reverse-sweep and having him caught at mid-wicket for 38.

Once again, the introduction of Kuldeep was fruitful for the Indians, as the hosts endured a mini-collapse, slumping from 73/0 to 82/3. Joe Root came in at No.3 and lasted just six balls for his 3, Kuldeep getting one to rip as he pegged his opponent back and trapped him lbw. Bairstow soon followed suit, matching fellow opener Roy's score of 38 as the third umpire overturned an lbw that was not given on-field, and Kuldeep had single-handedly dismantled England's top order.


Skipper Eoin Morgan (19) was just developing a rhythm as England looked to rebuild before he fell to a soft dismissal, chipping a flighted ball from Yuzvendra Chahal into the grateful clasp of Suresh Raina on the leg-side. At 105/4 in the 20th over England were on the back-foot, but the presence of Ben Stokes and Jos Buttler in the middle still posed a potent threat to India.

The run-rate slowed significantly, as England reached 158/4 after 30 overs, with Stokes batting in a particularly conservative fashion, notching 28 from 62 deliveries. He proceeded steadily, while Buttler was a little more urgent with his run-scoring, bringing up his 18th ODI fifty from 45 deliveries in the 36th over. England had edged to 188/4 and the India bowling attack did well in keeping a tight grip on the middle overs. Hardik Pandya (0/47) and Suresh Raina (0/8) supported Kuldeep with short, economical spells.


Buttler (53) was Kuldeep’s next victim, albeit not via his most threatening delivery when England’s premier hitter tamely skimmed the ball into MS Dhoni’s gloves down the leg-side.

Momentum remained with India, and as Stokes toiled away to his slowest ever ODI half-century from 102 deliveries, England had slim hopes of kicking on and passing the 300-mark. Stokes (50) fell shortly after as Kuldeep brought up a magnificent five-for, and once again England had been tamed by wrist spin. Kuldeep concluded his spell with his final wicket, David Willey (1) holing out to KL Rahul in the deep. His figures made staggering reading once again, notching 6/25 from his 10.

Moeen Ali (24) and Adil Rashid (22) showed some fight for England, but in the end the hosts stumbled to 268 all out after Umesh Yadav (2/70) had them both caught as the innings drew to a close. Liam Plunkett (10) was run out in his attempt to regain strike for the final ball of the innings, and the Indians required a very achievable 269 to begin the ODI series with a victory.


For India, Shikhar Dhawan started extremely positively as India looked to make light work of England's first innings total, and raced to 40 amidst an exciting flurry of boundaries before being dismissed by Ali (1/52), sweeping one that looped to Rashid at backward-square-leg. Kohli joined Rohit out in the middle with his side at 59/1.

What ensued was pure class, as India's veteran ODI batsmen gave England a masterclass, rotating strike with such ease and dispatching the ball to all parts with calculated, proper cricket shots. They both brought up their fifties as India looked to be cruising towards the total, and Rohit began to accelerate as three figures loomed, notching his 18th ODI century with a huge, straight six.

However, Kohli was not so fortunate in his bid to reach a ton, and got an absolute pearler from Rashid (1/70). On a length, the ball gripped and shot away, beating Kohli all ends up and dragging him out of his crease allowing Buttler to swiftly whip off the bails. Rahul (9*) came in and rotated strike adequately, allowing Rohit to become more expansive and reach an unbeaten 137 from just 114 balls.

Mark Wood (0/55), David Willey (0/25), Liam Plunkett (0/31) and Ben Stokes (0/27) all toiled away to little effect, and the 167-run stand between Rohit and Kohli was just too solid for the hosts, offering almost nothing in terms of wicket opportunities. Jason Roy almost held a sharp, diving chance at backward point to dismiss Rohit on 92, but it would have been the catch of the year.

Importantly, India will look to build on this result and continue this great away form going into the second ODI at Lord's on Saturday, July 14. If India completes a 3-0 whitewash in this series, they will leapfrog England to the No.1 spot in the ICC MRF Tyres ODI Team Rankings.