India was in a spot of bother after losing its top four cheaply. Then, Hardik Pandya and Rishabh Pant came together to construct a series-defining partnership of 133 runs. Pant accelerated after Pandya’s dismissal to get to his first-ever ODI century before sealing India’s series win with a boundary.
Earlier, Indian bowlers, led by Pandya’s four-wicket haul, contained England to a manageable total. Chahal managed to get three wickets. With his performance today, Pandya also became the first Indian to get a four-wicket haul and a 50 in the same game in both ODIs and T20s.
Root gets to toss the ball and Pant, almost in a symbolic manner, reverse sweeps it for a four. That is game, set, match and series.
Willey is back in and Pant goes berserk. FIVE BACK-TO-BACK BOUNDARIES. Getting to his century has uncorked the mad genius. India just three runs away. He splashes Willey to all corners of the ground, showing absolutely no mercy.
Pant’s batting acumen in complex test match situations has been proven beyond doubt. Today, he has done the same in ODIs. He almost gave it all up going for the glory shot, which just eludes a leaping fielder. One ball later, Pant swivels and turns it to square leg to complete his first ever century in ODIs and what a time to bring it up. It has put India, ever so close to a famous win here.
Willey’s turn to have a go at the lefties. The Indian batters know that if they play it safe and take their time, this chase could be in their pocket. But playing it safe has never been Pant’s forte. He goes down on his knee and wallops it into the stands beyond the mid-wicket fence for a SIX.
Buttler persists with Ali, almost in hopes of Pant or even Jadeja erring. Finally Pant decides to take a risk, going for a sweep shot. Slightly uppish, but rewards him with a FOUR.
Pant tries to go after Carse but only succeeds in getting a few doubles.
Moeen Ali is brought back with two left-handed batters in the middle. Jadeja is fidgety with the bat and almost drowned himself trying to go for a risky single. No harm done, anyway.
Almost as in response to Pant’s onslaught, Hardik pulls one almost into the long on fence for a four. He follows it by dispatching a slow full toss through the covers for another FOUR. But the Pandya show is put to an end, courtesy of an incredible diving catch by Ben Stokes.
Hardik Pandya c Stokes b Carse 71 (55b)
Overton continues. Hardik threads the needle through the off-side, but Stokes chases it down and keeps it down to three. He seems to have hurt himself in the process. But Pant doesn’t miss the mark. First, he cuts one beyond point for a FOUR. Then he steps down and slams one for a SIX. Pant has had enough of playing second fiddle.
The target is looking smaller and smaller for India. A risky double almost put Pant in danger. A better throw to the Carse’s end from the deep would have made it interesting. But, he survives. A quiet over, in comparison to recent overs. And we have a drinks break.
Buttler brings back Overton. Pant gets on top of a pull shot and nails it to the mid-wicket fence for a four. He repeats the pulls shot again, but this time finds the square leg boundary. Another FOUR.
Pant is done with laying low. He creams Livingstone over extra cover for a four. Hardik Pandya joins the act as he punches one through the covers for a four. Pure timing there.
Stokes gets another over. Pant lofts one over the bowler after having played some defensive shots to get to his 50. Clear sign of intent from him.
Livingstone gets a crack at the Indian batters. Pant refuses to bite into the bait, while Hardik taps one down to long off for a single to get to his 50. An all-round performance for the ages here from Pandya here.
First sighting of Ben Stokes with the ball. Pant welcomes with a smack down the leg side which races away for a four. Pant has been sedate, by his standards. But this partnership has revived India’s fortunes in this game and the series.
Moeen Ali continues as Buttler continues his ploy to tempt Pant. A slip in place, but Pant just knocks it down for singles.
Pandya attacks Topley straight off again. He cuts/slashes Topley for a FOUR. He follows it up with an uppish straight drive. Another FOUR. Hardik is one the move here.
Moeen Ali gets his second over. Pant doesn’t wade into Moeen, as Buttler would have hoped. Nevertheless, a quiet over reeled in by the off-spinner.
Hardik Pandya greets Topley with an on-drive that oozed class. FOUR! These two have kept the chase moving without any unnecessary risks. With Jadeja left to come, this chase might just be within the reach for India.
Moeen Ali replaces Carse. Nearly had Pant out stumped in his previous spell. He starts his new spell by being at the receiving end of a Pandya cover drive that races away to the fence. Good over from Mo Ali. 5 from it.
Overton continues. Just 3 from this over but these batters have now settled into a nice rhythm.
Carse. He overpitches as well and this time, it’s Pandya who drives handsomely through covers for four more. 7 from the over in the end. India need 152 runs from 28 overs.
Overton now overpitches and Pant unfurls a picture perfect drive down the ground for four. Runs starting to come now. He also brought up the team 100 with a single.
SIX! Carse concedes a maximum. Hardik Pandya swivels a pull to clear the fine leg for six. The fielder at fine leg, Overton, wasn’t on the rope and saw the ball sail over his head. Hardik ends the over by helping a pull shot to the fine leg for four more.
Overton continues. Nasser Hussain on commentary wondering whether England will go short at Pandya. And indeed Overton looks to exploit the middle of the pitch. Quiet overs ticking by. Just 2 from it.
Carse replaces Moeen. Hardik’s on strike. He had tested the England batters with a short ball barrage. Perhaps England would want to give him a taste of his own medicine now? No signs of that this over as the two batters settle for three singles
Hardik Pandya is the new man out there. He opens his account with a crisp drive for three. Pant flays a cut through backward point for four. Great shot. Overton offered width and got punished.
DRINKS
GONE! Suryakumar Yadav edges one back to the keeper. Overton’s extra bounce proves to be SKY’s undoing. The England pacers continue to chip away.
Moeen contines. Missed stumping! Pant steps out to Moeen, who turns the ball away sharply from the left-hander. Was an easy stumping chance had Buttler gathered the ball cleanly. Three from the over in the end.
Overton into the attack now. Pant on strike. He pinches a single first ball. These two batters will realise that India have a long tail, so another wicket at this stage will make things tricky. Meanwhile, Pant flashed hard at an Overton full ball and edged it away to third man for four.
Moeen continues. SKY and Pant happy to nudge the ball around for ones and twos. This partnership, though only in the 20s, has lent a semblance of stability to this Indian chase.
Carse continues. Pant flays a cut shot off the third ball and nearly gets four. But Overton in the deep runs to his right and puts in the dive. The TV umpire takes a look and decides it is a clean save. Exceptional effort. Saved 3. Sloppy running from SKY and Pant. They perhaps assumed it was a boundary and didn’t push harder.
Spin from the other end. Moeen Ali into the attack. Slip in place for Pant, none for SKY. Meanwhile, the 50 comes up for India. Six from that Moeen over.
Brydon Carse replaces Topley. Economical over. Only 3 from it. Very important stand this. The outcome of the match and the series might as well hinge on the stand between these two.
Willey into his fifth. Pant mistimes a drive to mid-off and takes off for a risky single second ball. Stokes has a shy at the non-striker’s end. Pant was a goner if it was a direct hit. Just one from that over.
Topley. GONE! There’s that left-armer angle away from Kohli and there’s that edge. Topley is flying and Kohli leaves the English shores on a disappointing note. He falls for a 22-ball 17. Suryakumar Yadav joins Pant. Yadav off the mark with a cracking cut shot for four. 5-1-15-3 - Topley so far.
Willey. He gets the ball to swing into Virat, who comes down the pitch and places it through mid-wicket for four more. Unlike Lord’s, Willey hasn’t generated much movement. In the search for swig, he is straying on Virat’s pads and paying the price.
Willey had removed Kohli in the last game with one that lifted outside off. Topley might try and do the same. For now, Kohli plays an elegant drive down the ground just for a single. Just two from the over.
Pant at No. 4. Willey bowls a length ball outside off and Kohli drives through sweeper cover for four. He follows it up with a clip through fine leg for another boundary. It’s followed by a punch in the air by Kohli. The ball swings into Kohli’s pads... almost clipped off his heel. Pant off the mark with a single off the last ball.
Topley. He had kept Virat tied down in his previous over but now, with Rohit on strike, he makes the mistake of dropping short and Rohit pulls him in front of square from outside off to collect four. GONE! Topley has the last laugh as Rohit nicks to the first slip. 3-1-9-2 - Topley’s figures so far.
Willey continues. Kohli gets off the mark with a single to fine leg. 1 off 9 balls.
WICKET! GONE! Topley with the first breakthrough as Dhawan holes out to Jason Roy at backward point. Kohli joins Rohit. Two slips in place for Kohli. Wicket maiden from Topley.
David Willey to share the attack. Rohit leans into the cover drive on the third ball and collects four more. The ball’s not swinging. Rohit ends the over with another boundary on the off side.
Rohit and Dhawan begin the chase. Reece Topley, fresh from his 6-for, with the new ball. Rohit ends the over with a gorgeous flick for four.
India needs 260 to win the game and the series. A Jos Buttler half-century, along with useful contributions from the lower middle-order helped England to a respectable total. Hardik Pandya was the pick of the Indian bowlers with a haul of four wickets, while the rest of the lot had an expensive outing despite being rewarded by a few wickets.
Overton goes after Chahal and Siraj at long off could only parry it over the fence for a SIX. Unforced error for India there. But a field change and two balls later, Overton holes out to Kohli at long off. Second wicket for Chahal. England is nine down. Chahal decides to wrap things up himself, gets a wrong one through Topley’s defense, and strikes his off stump. England’s innings conclude at 259, a total they should be happy with, considering the frequency with which Indian bowlers took wickets.
Craig Overton c Kohli b Chahal 32 (33b)
Reece Topley b Chahal 0 (1b)
Jadeja gets an over. A surprising move by Rohit as the pacers had enough overs between them. Nevertheless, a miserly over from Jadeja, just two runs from it.
Willey has been an irritating presence for India with the bat. But Chahal puts an end to his stint in the middle. He flights one outside the off and Willey goes after him, only to sky a catch to Suryakumar Yadav at long off. Chahal finally gets a wicket today.
David Willey c Yadav b Chahal 18 (15b)
Prasidh gets another over. He would be looking to set things right after being put to task in the last over. No respite for him though as Willey thumps him down the cover for a FOUR.
Siraj goes too deep with the short ball and it ends up too high even for Pant. Gives away five extra runs. This partnership is starting to hurt India’s chances.
Prasidh continues. The third ball of the over, he loses his control. Bowls an above-the waist no ball and Overton dispatches the free hit for a FOUR. It is Willey’s turn to punish Prasidh as he cashes in on a hit-me ball to get a SIX.
Rohit Sharma brings Siraj back in. Though expensive, Siraj’s early wickets are what helped India set up their precise bowling performance so far. He rattles Overton with a bouncer, but England gets through the over with no further damage.
Rohit Sharma would be looking to wrap things up as early as possible. Prasidh Krishna messes up an easy collect at mid-on and gives a couple of cheap runs. Another bouncer from Pandya and Overton manages a top edge. It looked destined for a four but a diving Chahal saves it.
Chahal keeps things quiet at the other end. Concedes just three runs against the new-to-crease duo of David Willey and Craig Overton.
Hardik misses his mark this time against Livingstone. The English batter pummels it out of the ground. A search party had to be commissioned to get that ball back. That doesn’t stop Hardik from continuing with the same length and finally the plot yields the result they had in their plan. Another short ball and Livingstone goes after him only for Jadeja, who must have been strategically placed there, to pocket a brilliant catch. Third wicket for Hardik and joy for the Indian setup in a plan falling into place. The joy is doubled soon enough. It is Buttler’s turn to miscue a pull shot and Jadeja completes an incredible running catch to eliminate the English skipper. What a turn of events. Hardik plucks two in an over. Fourth of the game
Liam Livingstone c Jadeja b Pandya 27 (31b )
Jos Buttler c Jadeja b Pandya 60 (80b)
Chahal goes on from the other end. He controls his length to counter the English batters’ strategy of stepping down against him. Just two runs off the over.
Hardik Pandya reintroduced. The English duo sneak in a three. Excellent running from these two. Pandya goes after Livingstone with some short stuff. The first one takes the batter by surprise while the second one was left alone with respect. Livingstone shows no such respect the third time as he swats it away with displeasure for a SIX. Hardik doesn’t relent as he bowls a fourth bouncer on trot. Livingstone defends it with the full face of the bat. One more short ball (5th in a row) from Hardik and this time Livingstone could only manage an edge, which crashes into his helmet. OUCH. Outstanding battle between these two.
Chahal gets another crack. He would love to get a wicket today after his four-wicket haul in the second ODI. Six runs from that over, but better control from the leggie.
Prasidh Krishna continues. Jos Buttler gets to the bounce off the ball and punches it to the cover boundary, only for a pouncing Kohli to stop it in its tracks. But Livingstone manages to get one past the infield for a FOUR. Eases it past mid-off.
Buttler drives Jadeja over extra cover and watches it trickle to the fence for a FOUR. A single later, Buttler brings up his 22nd ODI half-century. The skipper has shown restraint and would be looking to get the most out of the 50 overs.
Prasidh Krishna is back into the attack. He gets a few dot balls in but doesn’t trouble the batters much. England won’t mind a few overs like these.
Rohit Sharma puts himself at first slip for Livingstone against Jadeja. An indicator of his desire to prevent another partnership from developing here. But Livingstone and Buttler picks off a few easy singles off the left-arm spin to be done with a quick Jadeja over.
Shami continues on from the other end. Surprises Livingstone with a sharp bouncer. The Indian bowlers have employed the short ball strategy to varied success today.
Jadeja gets his first chance with the ball and he breaks the partnership with his second ball. Moeen Ali goes for a sweep and he edges the ball down the leg side, only for Rishabh Pant to collect a fine catch. A crucial breakthrough for India. Liam Livingstone replaces Ali in the middle. Jadeja gives him a freebie with a no-ball and Livingstone thumps the resultant free-hit over covers for a four to get off the mark.
Moeen Ali c Pant b Jadeja 34 (44b)
For the second game in running, Moeen Ali has helped the English side by rebuilding its innings after Indian bowlers had asserted themselves in the early stages. The English duo sees out another Shami over with just two singles off it.
Chahal continues. He hasn’t been able to recreate his success from the second ODI so far. Buttler pushes on against his IPL teammate as he steps down and launches him beyond the long-on boundary for a SIX. Ali follows his skipper with another SIX. He slog sweeps Chahal and it flies beyond the leg side boundary. This partnership is kicking on.
Rohit turns to Shami looking to put an end to this partnership which has pushed the game slightly away from England. The home side still has Liam Livingstone left to come and the Ali-Buttler duo see out Shami for now.
Chahal to continue. Three singles from it. Very good partnership brewing between these two.
Moeen Ali cuts Siraj behind square for four. Beautiful shot, ordinary ball - slightly short and wide from Siraj, who pays the price. Moeen then brings out the flourishing drive on the fourth ball and collects another four. He follows it up with a pull for six. Siraj is getting predictable with his short-ball ploy. It brings up the 50 stand as well.
Chahal. Buttler sends a full, tossed up ball flying over wide long-on for a massive six. 10 from the over including a couple of braces.
Siraj. Buttler is on strike. Siraj goes short again, but this time, Buttler pulls disdainfully to collect a boundary. Siraj bowls a gem of a ball to beat Moeen Ali’s outside edge. Ali was playing across the line. Next ball, Siraj cramps up Ali for room with another short ball. 6 for the over.
Chahal. England have been watchful. They are going at 4.5 runs per over. Five off this over as Buttler and Moeen nudge the ball around for singles. No signs of shifting gears yet.
Siraj comes back. He replaces Prasidh. Siraj starts with a wide. Siraj hits Buttler on the helmet with a short ball - the second legitimate delivery of the over. Buttler seems okay but a mandatory concussion check will ensue. A change of helmet for Buttler. He is good to go. Siraj sends down another short ball - penultimate delivery - and Buttler’s been hit on the grille, again. The batters take a single as the ball deflects to third man. Another concussion check on Buttler. 2 runs from that eventful over. By the way, a third helmet has now come out for the England skipper.
Here’s Chahal. He replaces Hardik. Moeen’s on strike with a slip in place. After three dot balls, Moeen drives down the ground for an easy single. Buttler gets a single off the last ball. 2 from the over.
Here’s Prasidh. Buttler drives the first ball for a single. Prasidh’s full length is already causing some doubts in the minds of the batters; Moeen attempts to drive a full ball and misses it all ends up. Just two off the over.
Hardik continues. There’s a short leg in place for Moeen Ali, who has had a bit of a short ball problem in the past. Hardik has just bowled his third maiden of the innings.
Buttler greets Prasidh with an imperious cover drive for four, off the first ball. Buttler is nearly caught off the third delivery; the ball landing just short of substitute Axar Patel at mid-off. Just six off the over with Prasidh bowling much fuller this over.
Hardik gets another big breakthrough. Stokes, who had been starved of strike for a while since Buttler’s arrival, is unable to fend off a short ball and is caught and bowled. Stokes gave him the charge and Hardik followed him with a well-directed short ball. Stokes was cramped for room and ultimately undone. Moeen Ali joins Buttler. He has come ahead of Liam Livingstone. Hardik’s second wicket maiden of the innings! His figures so far: 3-2-2-2
Prasidh bowls an economical third over. 5 from it including a wide. Buttler has played some handsome looking shots but has found the fielders.
Hardik Pandya continues. India’s change bowlers have done well so far. Racking up the dot balls. Not letting the new man Buttler off the blocks easily. Buttler’s off the mark after eight balls, with a single. Only two from this Hardik over.
Two back-to-back good overs from India. Prasidh concedes just one in his second. Buttler’s nearly caught at short cover off the last ball. It fell just short.
Double change as Hardik Pandya replaces Mohammed Siraj. He strikes! Roy has top-edged a pull and is caught by Pant. Roy goes for 41. Buttler joins Stokes. Wicket maiden from Hardik.
Prasidh replaces Shami, who conceded nearly 8.5 runs per over. Roy’s looking unstoppable at the moment. He brings up the 50 partnership with a chip on the on side for four. 7 off Krishna’s first over.
The boundaries are flowing off Stokes’s bat at the moment. The pitch is a belter. Siraj bowls short and Roy pulls in front of square for four more. Meanwhile, the 50 has come up for England.
Shami to Stokes, short and Stokes has crunched that pull shot through mid-wicket for four. Next ball, Shami overcompensates by bowling too full, and Stokes drives it handsomely down the ground for four more. 11 from the over.
Siraj into his third. Was turning out to be a good over until Roy pumped the last ball for four. He gave Siraj the charge and drove it over point for four.
Siraj bowls a short ball and Roy greets it with a front foot pull for four. There was a stifled appeal for lbw against Stokes on the fourth ball. Too high. Stokes pinches one off the penultimate ball. Roy collects two off the final delivery.
Siraj continues. Second ball, Stokes dances down the track and miscues the loft, which just about evades Hardik Pandya at mid-off. Next ball, Siraj pushes the ball across the left-hander, who punches through the off-side for four. He follows it up with a flamboyant flick for four more.
Ben Stokes has joined Roy, who is on strike against Shami. Two slips in place. Loud appeal for lbw against Roy on the second ball. Shami strikes Roy on the pads with an in-dipper. But that was going down leg stump. Next ball, Roy almost chops on. Eventful over. Only two from it.
GONE!WICKET! Bairstow perishes for a duck! Big wicket. Siraj, playing in place of Bumrah, gets him for a two-ball duck. Bairstow played across the line and was early into the shot, chipped it to the fielder at mid-off. Here comes Joe Root. GONE! Siraj strikes again. Root has nicked it to second slip. Double wicket maiden.
Jonny Bairstow and Jason Roy walk out to the middle. Overcast conditions in Manchester. Shami has the new ball. Roy will be on strike. Two slips in place. Roy off the mark with a drive for four. He follows it up with a flick to square leg for four more. Roy makes it three fours in the over with another wristy flick. 12 off the over. Shami guilty of bowling overpitched deliveries in that over.
TOSS UPDATE: Rohit Sharma has won the toss and India will bowl first. Bumrah misses out with back spasm. Siraj takes his place.
TEAMS
Hello and welcome to the LIVE coverage of the 3rd ODI between India and England. The Men In Blue beat the hosts by 10 wickets to go 1-0 up before England fought back with a crushing 100-run win in the second game. With the ODI series 1-1, it all boils down to today’s action in Manchester. Stay tuned for LIVE updates!
PREVIEW
Jolted by a thumping defeat in its last game, the Indian team is expected to tweak its batting template from cautious to a more fearless one in the series-deciding third ODI against England on Sunday.
The team under Rohit Sharma did put up an ultra-aggressive batting show with a great degree of success during the recently concluded T20 International series but the manner in which it chased a below-par target of 247 in the second ODI has left a lot to be desired.
READ THE FULL PREVIEW - HERE
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