Team India level T20I series 2-2 against England despite losing toss at Ahmedabad!
Team India bounced back with a 8 run win despite losing toss in the must win encounter against England. Rohit Sharma led Team India with 4 overs to go and it all turned around!
The Crucial Toss
Earlier England won the all important toss and put India to bat. Team India made 2 changes in the 4th T20I match against England. Leg spinner swap as Rahul Chahar came in for Yuzvendra Chahal – while Suryakumar Yadav is back in the playing 11 in place of the injured Ishan Kishan.
Rohit Sharma fell victim to Jofra Archer’s 20 kmph change in pace as Rohit Sharma put his leg cutter straight in to the hands of Archer.
The Rise of SKY
Suryakumar Yadav walked in to face the first ball of his International career as Jofra Archer. Short ball at 143.9kph! Suryakumar Yadav pulls it for a Six in calypso style on one leg! That’s some way to begin your account in International cricket!
KL Rahul was tentative through out his innings except for a shot or two. Ben Stokes removed Rahul right after the powerplay –as he got caught on 14 runs in 17 balls trying to clear the mid off fielder Jofra Archer.
Captain Kohli’s misery against leg spin continued with his nemesis Adil Rashid getting him stumped for just 1 run. Soon after Suryakymar Yadav brought up his half century on debut in 28 balls!
India reached the 100 mark in 12.4 overs as Rishabh Pant took initiative to up the ante. Right after that over – Suryakumar Yadav welcomed Sam Curran in to the attack with a maximum sweep ramp hybrid shot over the fine leg fielder!
Curran seeked revenge in the same over as Suryakumar Yadav got across on his knee to lap the very next ball over fine leg, didn’t quite get it as cleanly or as fine, as Malan came in to take a catch which the onfield umpire soft signalled it as OUT. Due to any conclusive evidence the Third Umpire adjudged it out.
Suryakumar Yadav scored 57 runs in 31 balls on his International debut with the help of 6 fours & 3 sixes!
The IYER-THAKUR SLOG
Shreyas Iyer who walked in next kept going from the word go. His 37 in 18 balls were crucial in the final outcome on the Indian total as Hardik Pandya struggled once again against the pace and bounce of English bowlers. He surgically placed the balls to boundaries and kept the run scoring going. He scored 5 fours and 1 six in his knock of 37 runs.
Shardul Thakur’s 4 ball 10 run cameo powered India to 185-8 in 20 overs.
Jofra Archer picked 4 wickets for England in his 4 over spell!
The English Start
Defending 185 runs to stay alive in the series – new ball bowlers Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Hardik Pandya kept it tight in the first 2 overs. Bhuvi was expensive in his second over but got the price wicket of Jos Buttler with his variation and change of length!
Jason Roy started expressing himself ever since and by spanking Washington Sundar for 17 runs in his first over England were 48/1 in the powerplay. Dawid Malan struck a SIX next over off Thakur but the very next over the introduction of Rahul Chahar worked for Virat Kohli.
Malan tried reverse sweeping Rahul Chahar who was just finding his length in his first match of the series – but misjudged the googly by the legspinner as the ball crashed in to the stumps. Malan was out for 14 runs in 17 balls.
The very next over Hardik Pandya struck with a disguised bouncer as Jason Roy skied one in to the hands of Suryakumar Yadav who came running in from deep mid-wicket to complete the catch. Jason Roy missed out on another half century. His 3rd knock of 40s in 4 matches in this series.
The Stokes-Bairstow Accelerator
At 10 overs point – England were 71/3 needing 115 runs to win in the last 10 overs. In the next 5 overs Stokes and Bairstow spanked 61 runs and reduced the equation to 54 runs to win in 5 overs. The duo was severe on spinners Washington Sundar (4-0-52-0) and Rahul Chahar (4-0-35-2). Chahar got Bairstow in his final over to pull things back a bit.
Stokes and Bairstow put a partnership of 65 runs in 6 overs to turn tables for England. Stokes was very severe and took total command of the slog to pale down things for India as the required run rate kept dropping down with each over of his stay.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar bowled over number 16 and conceded just 8 runs despite Stokes stepping out and punishing his 3rd delivery for a four.
The Turning Point
With 46 runs required in 24 balls – Virat Kohli had to leave the field with a limp. This set stage for 5 time IPL winning captain Rohit Sharma to take charge of the captaincy duties. Rohit brought in Shardul and ball 1 a off-cutter – Ben Stokes strikes one straight in to the hands of Suryakumar Yadav at long off! Stokes scored 46 in 23 balls with 4 fours and 3 sixes – BIG WICKET!
The next ball Captain Morgan departed playing a slice to yet another slow outside off stump delivery.
Hardik Pandya conceded just 6 runs in 18th over and picked the wicket of Sam Curran to finish off his spell for the day (4-0-16-2)!
England now needed 33 runs to win in 2 overs as Rohit brought back Bhuvneshwar Kumar who conceded 10 runs leaving Shardul Thakur to defend 23 runs in the final over!
Shardul’s over was no short of drama as his first 3 balls going for 1,4,6, wd,wd – England needed 10 runs to win in 3 balls after Jofra Archer’s back to back boundaries!
Captain Rohit and Hardik Pandya have a word with Thakur. The next 3 balls Shardul made a great come back with 1, W (Jordan) and a dot! India won by 8 runs and levelled the T20I series 2-2 against all odds bowling in tough dew conditions!
Match Summary
India 185-8 in 20 overs
Suryakumar Yadav 57 (31) – 6 fours & 3 sixes
Shreyas Iyer 37 (18) – 5 fours & 1 six
Rishabh Pant 30 (23) – 4 fours
Jofra Archer 4-0-33-4
Mark Wood 4-1-25-1
England 177-8 in 20 overs
Ben Stokes 46 (23) – 4 fours & 3 sixes
Jason Roy 40 (27) – 6 fours & 1 six
Jonny Bairstow 25 (19) – 2 fours & 1 six
Shardul Thakur 4-0-42-3
Hardik Pandya 4-0-16-2
INDIA WON BY 8 RUNS
Man of the Match: Suryakumar Yadav
Toss: England won the toss and elect to bowl
Venue: Narendra Modi Stadium, Motera
My dream team will feature Marcus Trescothick and Anil Kumble
