LONDON, July 12: A blistering partnership between Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan and a career-best six-wicket haul by Jasprit Bumrah guided Team India to a 10-wicket win over England in the first ODI of the three-match series here at the Kensington Oval on Tuesday.
Rohit smashed 76 runs off 58 balls while Shikhar scored 31 runs off 54 balls to help the Men in Blue chase down the target of 111 runs in just 18.4 overs. Apart from Bumrah, Mohammed Shami took three wickets while Prasidh Krishna finished with one.
Chasing 111, Team India started off on a steady note with the opening pair of Rohit and Dhawan taking the innings forward. The duo scored 21 runs in six overs, before bringing the momentum to the game and smashing 35 runs in the next four overs.
The Men in Blue crossed the 50-run mark in 10 overs with both the batters standing unbeaten at the crease. Continuing the proceedings at a steady rate, Rohit brought up his half-century in 49 balls and helped Team India reach the 100-run mark in 18 overs.
With only 11 runs left to win, the duo smashed 13 runs in the next four balls and brought Team India to a 10-wicket victory in a mere 18.4 overs to take a 1-0 lead in the three-match ODI series.
Earlier, opting to bowl first, the Indian bowlers proved their captain Rohit Sharma’s decision right as Bumrah wreaked havoc on England batters in the powerplay.
England’s opening batter Jason Roy was sent back to the pavilion on a golden duck. Roy’s wicket was quickly followed by Joe Root, who was fell prey to Bumrah without scoring a run.
Ben Stokes then came to bat, but could not stand long as he was dismissed by Mohammed Shami without opening his account.
At that point opening batter, Jonny Bairstow tried to anchor innings. His inning was cut short by the fiery bowling of Bumrah, who departed Bairstow on seven runs.
Captain Jos Buttler stood on the crease like the only hope for the Three Lions. Liam Livingstone the hard-hitting batter of the team was dismissed for a duck by Bumrah.
England’s top order tumbling on a grassy pitch at The Oval. Jason Roy, Joe Root, Ben Stokes and Liam Livingstone were all out for ducks.
At the 8th over England’s score read 26-5. Indian bowlers made English batters dance to their tunes and grabbed wickets at regular intervals to completely dismantle the hosts.
England captain and Moeen Ali managed to stem the flow of wickets for a while before the latter fell to Prasidh Krishna.
Buttler’s wicket ended England’s last hope to post a respectable total on board, finally fell to Shami for 30 off 32 balls. Buttler’s wicket invited Craig Overton to the crease but the latter could not do much and was dismissed by Shami after scoring 8 runs.
At that point, Shami was on fire as he demolished England 68 for 8. David Willey and Brydon Carse came to the rescue to help their team to post a decent total in front of their home crowd.
The duo kept changing the sides to pile up runs in their favour. They stitched a brief partnership of 35 runs before Carse fell prey to Bumrah’s spell and was bowled after scoring 15 runs off 26 balls. Reece Topley was the next man in, who joined hands with Willey at the crease.
It was Bumrah, who struck again and dismissed Topley to restrict England’s batting run to 110, which is also their lowest total in an ODI match. (ANI)
