Sunday, 28 March saw a nail-biter of a match to decide the three-match ODI series between India and England. With both teams having won a match each, the deciding final match was always going to be exciting. But this exciting!? It went all the way down to the wire before India snatched victory from the jaws of Sam Curran defeat. Here’s what happened:
The Indian skipper has had bad luck with the toss recently. India was put in to bat by England who won the toss in all three matches of the tournament.
The Indian batsmen did well to set the visitors a 317 run target. Shikhar Dhawan top-scored with 98.
Virat Kohli, K L Rahul and Krunal Pandya (on debut) also scored half centuries.
K L Rahul struck form with his 62 off 43 deliveries and also took a couple of important catches.
He struck vital blows to claim the wicket of Jonny Bairstow at 94, Eoin Morgan and Joss Buttler. He was instrumental in India’s 66 run victory in the first ODI.
India made a more than respectable 336 with K L Rahul making 108 off 114.
Kohli scored 66 and Rishabh Pant made 77 off just 40 with Hardik Pandya chipping in with 35 off 16.
The England batsmen were up to the task, however. Jonny Bairstow made 124 off 112 and Ben Stokes missed his century by a whisker: he made 99 off just 52 balls. England won by 6 wickets, getting achieving the target in the 44th over.
It was third time unlucky for Virat Kohli. The toss once again went the way of England who put the Indians in to bat.
Dhawan’s 67, Pant’s 78 and Hardik Pandya’s 64 as well as Shardul Thakur’s 30 off 21 were good enough to get India to 329. Thakur also picked up four vital wickets.
Coming in at no 8, Sam Curran’s innings was nothing short of heroic.
There was a time when Curran seemed set to take a winning match away from India. He not only top scored for this team with his brilliant 95 off 83, he brought his team achingly close to victory.
When India won by six runs in the end, his dejection would have prompted sympathy from the most hard-hearted soul. Fittingly, he was declared player of the match.
It was a close fought match and Curran tried his best till the end. India emerged victorious in the end but it could easily have gone the other way.
The decider 3rd ODI between India and England was everything a good cricket match should be. There was a time when the pressure on the Indian players was evident: dropped catches, loose balls and even Bhuvneshwar Kumar bowling consecutive wides in a vital over. However, in the end, the Indian team held its nerve and won the ODI series against England 2-1.
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