Sent into bat after losing the toss, India were held to 229/9 despite skipper Rohit Sharma’s hard-fought 87 off 101 balls. Mohammed Shami (4/22), Jasprit Bumrah (3/32) and Kuldeep Yadav (2/24), however, combined to bundle out England for 129 in 34.5 overs. England’s loss was their fifth in six games, all but sealing their fate in the tournament.
Batting first for the first time in the World Cup, India got off to a nervous start, losing their first three wickets with only 40 runs on the board in under 12 overs. Shubman Gill (9) was knocked over by an incoming delivery from Chris Woakes (2/33). Virat Kohli perished for a nine-ball duck, falling in his attempt to dominate David Willey (3/45). Yet again, Shreyas Iyer (4 off 16) perished attempting the pull.
Rohit and KL Rahul (39 off 58) then added 91 runs for the fourth wicket. The significant stand ended when Rahul tried to slog Willey, but only ended up skying a catch. Rohit was looking good for a hundred, but fell short of it, miscuing a googly of leg-spinner Adil Rashid. The latter also trapped Ravindra Jadeja leg before for 8.
Suryakumar Yadav lifted India at the death with a crucial knock of 49 from 47 balls, striking four fours and a six. Bumrah and Kuldeep chipped in, featuring in a handy 21-run stand for the ninth wicket as India set England 230.
England got off to a decent start in the chase as their openers added 30 in a swift manner. However, Bumrah provided Team India the breakthrough as Dawid Malan (16) dragged one onto his stumps. Very next ball, he trapped Joe Root leg before for a golden duck.
Ben Stokes (0) looked completely out of sorts and was knocked over by Shami as he tried to slog one across the line. Shami also sent back Jonny Bairstow (14), who inside-edged a delivery onto his stumps, very much like his opening partner Malan.
England captain Jos Buttler (10) was knocked over by one that turned back sharply from Kuldeep. His dismissal left the team in tatters at 52/5. They dragged themselves to 129, getting bowled out in 34.5 overs against a relentless Indian bowling attack.
--By A Cricket Correspondent
