Hello and welcome to Sportstar's Highlights of the third T20I between India and England from the Narendra Modi stadium in Ahmedabad.
England has bounced back with a terrific response as Morgan and Co. beat India with some riveting pace and dynamic batting. The Indian top-order crumbled under some lightning quick spells from comeback man Mark Wood and a menacing Archer.
With the top-order in ruins, it was always difficult for India to inspire a comeback but it was nearly on, for a near flawless Virat Kohli was out to lead India's fightback. Kohli's blade did not bow to the England bowlers as he racked up a sizzling 77* to lead India to a below-par 156/6.
As expected, the total did little to put England off-guard and the visitor's chase was set up by a sublime 83* from Jos Buttler. Buttler took on the Indian bowlers from the start and dished out their hopes for a regular breakthroughs. Buttler added up with Bairstow for the third-wicket and put the Indians into further misery as the bowlers looked in no shape to make further inroads.
Kohli and his men have been put in uncharted waters as India will face the pressure heading into Thursday's fourth T20I with certain cracks to fill - the Achilles Heel certainly being to attack against England's raw pace.
See you all then folks, good night!
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England 158/2 after 18.2 overs: Bairstow finishes the game with back-to-back boundaries! England takes a 2-1 lead in the series in emphatic fashion. A cracking back-foot pull off Thakur follows up with a slash over point and India have received another jolt as Morgan's men complete a terrific comeback into the series.
England 150/2 after 18 overs: England crosses 150 with minimal fuss and is nearly clear of the final hurdle. Bairstow has chipped in with a good cameo to support Buttler who has been on a different plane altogther.
England 141/2 after 16 overs: A genuine edge carries off Thakur's pace and gives a lucky break to Bairstow who sets up 1000 T20I runs! Bairstow follows it up with a wild slog and the top-edge flies towards Chahal who squanders it altogether after running in from third-man.
England 132/2 after 16 overs: Under mounting pressure, Sundar darts through a five-run over. England well in control even now as it needs 25 from 24 balls. Buttler has recorded his highest-score in T20Is as well!
England 127/2 after 15 overs: Tight over from Chahal and it ends with Kohli dropping Buttler.
Chahal slides it in straight and Buttler attempts the reverse-sweep that jumps up in the air and Kohli drops a regulation catch at point.
England 120/2 after 14 overs: Buttler's in a hurry! Sundar keeps it tight through the before Buttler retains strike to send the ball soaring over the long-on boundary. This has been some exhibition of clean-hitting from Jos, the Boss.
England 102/2 after 12 overs: This is some supreme running between the wickets from Buttler and Bairstow. Chahal fails to keep the batsmen from ticking away for runs while Kohli is certainly unimpressed by the fielding standards at the moment. England cruising to the win with 55 needed from eight overs.
England 92/2 after 11 overs: The runs are flowing in for England off singles and doubles as the key objective from its batsmen have been to reduce the dots. Pandya gives it all and probably a little more than needed and sends one over Pant to the boundary for four byes.
England 83/2 after 10 overs: Sundar to Malan. OUT! And there's the much needed breakthrough! Malan steps out from the crease but Sundar fires it in to beat him and Pant does the rest! The world's no.1 batsman has been kept quiet by India his latest couple of innings here. Dawid Malan st †Pant b Washington Sundar 18 (17b 0x4 1x6)
England 78/1 after 9 overs: FIFTY for Jos Buttler! A whirlwind knock from the England opener has blown the air out of India's fightback. Coming in quick rate, England has been put on a good position even as Hardik Pandya tries his best for his side. Keep its pretty good throughout the over before Malan top-edges one over the third-man boundary for six!
England 68/1 after 8 overs: Kohli held back Sundar in the powerplay due to Buttler's overpowering presence but the offie has kept things smooth in his first over. Sundar rushes hte ball onto Buttler off the short length and has given no room to flex his muscle in a four-run over. India needs a few quiet overs in its bid to build pressure.
England 64/1 after 7 overs: Pandya has mixed up his length and pace well in his first over. A slew of under-cutters and slower bounces have made the batsmen quiet, but Malan and Buttler would be content with the scoring rate and exchanges strikes through single in the over.
England 57/1 after 6 overs: Buttler storms England past 50! Chahal is taken to the cleaners once again as the England opener seems to be in the mood. A reverse-sweep and conventional sweep from Jos has put the leggie under the pump once again.
England 46/1 after 5 overs: Prime-time Buttler! 16 runs off the Thakur over
as Buttler creams him for three boundaries. Thakur strays down the leg-side as Buttler pushes one fine while pulling the other behind square leg. Thakur pushes on short and Buttler has all the time to pull it over the deep square leg fence. He is making up here for a poor series so far and this might well turn out to be a massive problem for India.
England 30/1 after 4 overs: Chahal to Roy. OUT! Roy's sluggish stand comes to an end! Roy tries a sheepish reverse-sweep and mistimes it altogether, right after Buttler had hit Chahal for a six. A needless shot finds Rohit at point and India has its first strike. Dawid Malan, the new man gives the strike back to Buttler who steps down once again to send the ball sailing over the long-on stand. Jason Roy c Sharma b Chahal 9 (13b 2x4)
England 16/0 after 3 overs: And Roy clobbers way out of trouble. Full from Bhuvneshwar and Roy pounces on it and rockets it past the bowler down the ground. Roy is lucky to find another boundary as he attempts scoop Kumar over fine leg but the edge carries it just over the backward point fielder to the fence.
England 7/0 after 2 overs: Thakur unlike Bhuvneshwar beats Roy altogether with a couple of away swingers first-up. A tentative start here for the England opener with some prodigious swing on offer with the ball. However, India loses a review with the only ball that Thakur brought in to hit Roy on his pads. Kohli and the bowler were up instantly even as Pant seemed uninterested.
Skipper Kohli is back on the field.
England 4/0 after 1 over: Bend it like Bhuvi! Bhuvneshwar brings in the ball sharply to hit Roy thrice on the pads. All tailing in sharply and well clear off the leg-stump. Bhuvi and Pant consult Rohit for a review but he is unmoved, citing the ball leaving the stumps. The replays affirm the same. Roy struggles to exchange strike and Buttler unlike his partner gets off the mark with easy drive through covers.
Rohit Sharma has led the team out the field in the absence of Kohli. Suryakumar has taken his place.
The chase is on. Jason Roy and Jos Buttler walk out to the crease as the Indians take the field. Bhuvneshwar Kumar with the new ball.
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Has India put itself under massive pressure in its new mantra to go all-guns blazing from the start? Either way, a stunning England bowling performance has put India on the backfoot with pacers Mark Wood and Jofra Archer acing the pace test. With a crumbling top-order putting India in jeopardy, it was upto India's new no.4, skipper Virat Kohli's invincible 77* took India to a reasonable 157 on board. A stern challenge for India's bowlers as they aim to stop a near-unstoppable England batting lineup.
India 156/6 after 20 overs: Bittersweet finish for India as a six and a four from Pandya and Kohli make up the final over. Jordan comes back well for the final three deliveries of the over after a long discussion with Morgan and Pandya's desperate heave off the final delivery has him caught by Archer at extra cover. Brilliant performance from the England bowlers and so has been the reply from skipper Kohli.
India 142/5 after 19 overs: Archer has Pandya in check with a couple of slower one that Pandya fails to hit. Kohli, the eager-beaver steals a run as Buttler fails to step on his toes. Kohli then slashes a bouncer from Archer over third-man. Geez, this man has found an all-new version of himself to regain form!
India 131/5 after 18 overs: Invincible batting from Virat! He has dissected England's best bowler tonight, Wood with two of the best shots of this year so far! Wood's fiery short ball is taken apart by a cracking hook over square by Virat and he follows it up with a sizzling lofted six over long-off from a seemingly brilliant delivery from Wood. This is imperious touch from the Indian captain and it has well and truly been a one-man show.
India 114/5 after 17 overs: FIFTY FOR KOHLI! And the surgeon's precision is back in his blade as he cuts cross between deep midwicket and long-on to find a boundary to reach his second fifty of the series! He has found his groove again and India would want nothing short of 150 here.
India 100/5 after 16 overs: Archer v Kohli and the Indian skip comes out on top, barely. Kohli lofts the first ball deftly over the mid-off fielder to the boundary and a streaky heave top-edges next to the third man boundary for a six. Lucky break for India and the Kohli in yet another manic over from Archer. Oh, in the sub-plot, India crosses 100 with some struggle.
India 87/5 after 15 overs: Wood to Iyer. OUT! Iyer perishes to the short-ball as Wood picks up no.3! Wood peppers another short-ball aimed at Iyer's head as he swivels to the on-side to slash it over the deep point boundary but fails in execution. A rather poor shot given the situation and Kohli shrugs in disbelief. Shreyas Iyer c Malan b Wood 9 (9b 1x4)
India 84/4 after 14 overs: Curran does well to keep Kohli and Iyer on their toes. The boundaries have dried up and Morgan has set up excellent ploys to ensure it stay that way so far. Interesting six overs beckon for India as the "approach" will be worth a watch.
India 74/4 after 13 overs: Superb from Rashid as he finishes his quota with an absolute peach to beat Iyer's bat. Just the three runs conceded and India's free-spirited self has vanished so far in this innings. With just seven overs to go, it's high-time for Kohli and Iyer to go for it.
India 71/4 after 12 overs: Pant is run out! India is committing hara-kiri here! A needless run off the misfield has cost him is wicket and Pant should have sent his skipper back over here. Pant nudges one off Sam Curran through the area behind square and rushes for two even as Kohli jogs through it initially. The throw from the fielder to Buttler drops a few paces away from his hand and Kohli runs in halfway for the third even as Pant begins from well-behind the stumps having over-run. Kohli pauses but Pant takes the punt and runs but Buttler's throw is collected and snapped well by Curran onto the stumps. Rishabh Pant run out (†Buttler/Curran) 25 (20b 3x4)
India 62/3 after 11 overs: Kohli on the prowl! Jordan moves on in quick to Kohli's pads and he misses his go-to flick. Kohli vents out some colouful words through the stump-mic in frustration but makes up for it in style with bottom-handed slog over deep midwicket.
India 55/3 after 10 overs: Pant makes a move and rallies India past 50. Rashid strays to the pads and Pant is more than happy to guide it past short fine leg to the boundary. Rashid comes in with a slider next and Pant is quick to pounce on it to slay an inside-out boundary over extra cover.
India 44/3 after 9 overs:
The runs have been hard to come by as Pant and Kohli feel the heat. Stokes finishes another good over with just six runs conceded in singles.
India 38/3 after 8 overs: Kohli welcomes Rashid with a top shot over mid-off to the boundary. Rashid is quick to check his line and pushes it in fuller to force the batsmen to deal in singles for the rest of the over.
India 30/3 after 7 overs: Kohli and Pant have a massive challenge on their hands as a hefty total is a must against this English, provided India has only five bowlers in its ranks. Stokes has come in and bowled with more heart to restrict the boundaries in his first over.
India 24/3 after 6 overs: Jordan to Kishan. OUT! Goodness me! England is peeling off the Indian top-order with some raw pace here. Jordan drops it short and wide as Kishan tries the large-hearted heave but top-edges it. Jos Buttler behind the wicket runs back for it and gobbles up a fine catch as India is found reeling at the end of the powerplay. Ishan Kishan c †Buttler b Jordan 4 (9b)
India 24/2 after 5 overs: Wood to Rohit. OUT! Wood has another as he rushes Rohit with the short ball! Rohit is fuming. The ball just climbs onto him even as Rohit attempts to move further to his right to make room for the pull. Excellent from Wood as he strikes twice for England, however, things are not easy with skipper Kohli coming in and mastering a stellar cover drive! Rohit Sharma c Archer b Wood 15 (17b 2x4)
India 16/1 after 4 overs: Another probing over from Archer as he nearly forces to clip the ball back to the stumps with a searing fuller delivery. Rohit a little tentative here as Archer rushes it onto him. Kishan meanwhile puts Archer at bay with a top punch down the ground to the boundary.
India 8/1 after 3 overs: Wood to Rahul. OUT! A jaffa from Wood cleans up Rahul! Good length and some cracking pace running through - 91mph - and the ball crams onto the middle stump as Rahul plays late all-around it. Another duck for the Indian opener as he has hit rock-bottom. KL Rahul b Wood 0 (4b)
India 6/0 after 2 overs: And Archer DROPS Rohit!
A complete sitter offered from the Indian opener and Archer makes a mess of it. Rohit expects the quick pace but Archer takes it slow with his first ball and he chips the ball straight back to him. Archer skids and probably did not expect it first-up.
Archer follows it up with a stellar over as he beats the edge of Rohit and Rahul comfortably to concede just one-run!
Archer up with the ball.
India 5/0 after 1 over:
A quiet start as Rashid keeps it short to Rohit who eases with a couple of glances to the on-side. Rashid fails to pep one in full to Rohit, someone who has been troubled by leg-spin in the recent past.
Adil Rashid takes the new ball for England.
We are match ready! Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul walk out to the middle as Eoin Morgan in his 100th T20I, leads England out to the field.
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6:50PM: Folks, hope you guys heard that right. Skipper Kohli said Ishan Kishan will play at No.3 which means Kohli demotes to no.4 . How interesting would that turn out to be as he would play the role of a semi-finisher in the first innings?
6:45PM: So India's Hitman returns to limited-overs cricket for the first since February 2020! In a tumultuous calendar, Rohit has featured in six Tests for India and has rejuvenated his red-ball career. The white-ball great heads into the third match here with a stupendous form under his belt.
Interestingly, Rohit's numbers in his last limited-overs contests against England also suggest a fine run.
Kohli
: Honestly, I'd have chosen to bowl first as well. It's good the series is poised, and England will come hard. Obviously, crowds are an added advantage, but having said that you have to be professional. Suryakumar, unfortunately, has to make way for Rohit. He's going to open with KL (Rahul) and Ishan (Kishan) will bat at No.3
Morgan: It's a bit humid, and it's about bringing in a performance to get the win. It's a special day for me (100th T20I) and my family.
TOSS: England wins the toss and elects to bowl first
6:21PM:
India paces through its warm-up routines
with the Toss coming up in nine minutes.
6:15PM: Moeen Ali and Adil Rashid have a brisk bowling drill going on, suggesting a certain tweak in the England XI. After a poor outing, the axe may fall on Tom Curran.
6:05PM:Update: Rohit Sharma is seen on the field going through some routine drills. Well....
6:02PM: Nicely rolled-on red-soil surface set up for a potentially even contest!
5:55PM: Ahead of the all-important Toss, here are some key numbers from the match.
5:52PM:
Eoin Morgan and his boys ace the frame.
5:45PM: Pitch conditions: England captain Eoin Morgan referred to the pitch being relaid to a red-soil pitch for the third T20I. Even as the surface will not wear down much, the track will certainly turn prodigiously for the spinners, putting the captains on the spot to tweak their combinations. In all likelihood, Morgan could bring in off-spinner Moeen Ali to pair with Adil Rashid while Kohli could bring in the third-spinner.
5:40PM: With skipper Kohli's reference of a "couple of games" for opener Rohit Sharma set to end, provided there are no other causes, the Indian vice-captain is set to make his return tonight. The focus, however, will be on Kohli's call on whom to replace despite opener KL Rahul being clearly under the pump - with scores of 1 and 0. Dhawan and Rahul's quick snub would give young Kishan a massive opportunity to stake his claim for the coveted spot. The management, however, will have a tough time keeping the senior openers in good head space at the same time as well.
2nd T20I review
The pendulum of fortunes have swung and the momentum has shifted once again, much like the Test series leg of India's home summer. Eoin Morgan's white-ball squad was quick to replicate the fine start of Joe Root's team in whites - a resounding win to begin the series, so much so that would deflate most oppositions going around. However, things are a shade different with England's close competitor in the T20I rankings as Kohli and Co. bounced backed in typical grandeur.
India made the bold move to go in with just five specialist bowlers while handing debuts to the dynamic duo of Suryakumar Yadav and Ishan Kishan - two immensely talented stars whose careers have coincided in surprising fashion. While Kishan made merry at the top of the order, Surya's wait to stride down to the crease in India blues continued, for skipper Kohli had found his mojo again.
In a terrific bowling display, India strangled the behemoth batting line-up of England to 164 on a fine surface with a slew of variations to shut down the big hits. The Indian pacers - Bhuvi, Thakur and Hardik Pandya - mixed up their lengths with stellar changes in pace as England batsmen had a tough time to find their timing.
The stage was set for India's response and so it began with a strong-willed boy opening the innings for his country in his first-ever international game. There were no nerves, neither did the shots jet out with a rash exuberance of youth. Ishan Kishan marked his arrival in style with a cracking half-century - the second Indian to do so on T20I debut - to stifle the England bowlers who had a hard time with the ball. Skipper Virat Kohli soon took guard at the non-striker's end and an out-of-form self was charged up with Kishan's brilliance at the other end.
Kohli, in a flash, found his best self holding the bat and the characteristic shots were all onto the fore once again. The fluidic drive and the malleable flicks graced the fans and Kohli went one-up when he finished the game with a classic 'Nataraja' for six, in a sense of nonchalance and put the English challenge level.
Come Tuesday, the host will not have its loyal fans in the stands for obvious reasons, but the challenge remains the same with a World Cup preparation on its way behind the curtains.
FORM GUIDE (last five matches)
India WLLWW
England LWWWW
TEAMS (from)
- India : Virat Kohli (c), Rohit Sharma, K. L. Rahul, Shikhar Dhawan, Shreyas Iyer, Suryakumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant (wk), Hardik Pandya, Yuzvendra Chahal, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Shardul Thakur, Navdeep Saini, Deepak Chahar, Rahul Tewatia, Ishan Kishan.
- England : Eoin Morgan (c), Jos Buttler, Jason Roy, Liam Livingstone, Dawid Malan, Ben Stokes, Moeen Ali, Adil Rashid, Reece Topley, Chris Jordan, Mark Wood, Sam Curran, Tom Curran, Sam Billings, Jonny Bairstow, Jofra Archer.
WHERE TO WATCH THE INDIA vs ENGLAND SERIES?
The IND vs ENG series can be live streamed on Disney+Hotstar . It can also be watched on the Star Sports television network.
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