Ind vs Eng 5th T20I: India clinch series against England in style as big guns boom | Cricket News – Times of India
On a day when both teams indulged in big-hitting on a shirtfront of a wicket and produced 412 runs, India withstood Dawid Malan (68; 46b, 4×9, 6×2) and Jos Buttler‘s (52; 34b, 4×2, 6×4) assault to restrict England to 188 for eight chasing 225.
SCORECARD
In a pattern slightly similar to the Indian innings earlier, it was attacking batting as Malan, the world’s top ranked T20I batsman, made sure England were at par with India in the Powerplay. Despite dew, Bhuvenshwar’s repertoire of slower deliveries was a treat just as his returns of two for 15 were effective.
India then rammed home the advantage with Shardul Thakur (3/45) joining the act as overs 10-15 saw England score 38 runs for the loss of three wickets. India’s bowling effort complemented their batting earlier.
Led by Rohit Sharma at the top, the hosts sustained their hitting to the very end of their innings, with batsman after batsman putting the England attack under pressure after skipper Eoin Morgan decided to field in Ahmedabad on Saturday.
In forcing the England attack to do his bidding, Rohit had them playing into his hands. Mark Wood was at the receiving end with two cracking shots racing past the bowler before he could react and with the pick-up shot working fine, Rohit cleared boundaries with impunity.
Wood also muffed up a skier and as if to mock him, Rohit reached his half-century with a six off Sam Curran in just 30 deliveries. Rohit’s blitzkrieg (64; 34b, 4×4, 6×6) and his 94-run stand with skipper Kohli (80 not out; 52b, 4×7, 6×2) gave India their best start in this series and also justified the call to leave KL Rahul out and bring in T Natarajan.
01:50India clinch T20I series against England
There was no respite for England even after Rohit dragged Ben Stokes on to his stumps as Suryakumar Yadav (32; 17b, 4×3, 6×2) continued the good work. In going about his task methodically, Kohli ensured the foot was constantly on the pedal.
England’s fielding, sloppy at best, perked up after Chris Jordan‘s athleticism – running to his right at long on and relaying the catch to Jason Roy before crossing the boundary – got rid of Yadav, but such was the scale of Indian attack that runs cascaded in boundaries and sixes.
Just as adroitly as he goes about a chase, Kohli went about the task of taking India to 224 for two – their highest against England.
The hosts, having got 110 in the first 10, added 47 in the next five with 19 coming in the 12th and 67 in the last five as the Indian skipper eclipsed Aaron Finch (1462) as the captain with most runs in T20Is.
Promoted in the order, Hardik Pandya (39; 17b, 4×4, 6×2) and Kohli’s 81-run (40b) unbroken stand set it up beautifully for the hosts.