BIRMINGHAM, July 14: India made a commanding start to the three-match One-Day International series, defeating England by six wickets at Edgbaston on Tuesday as captain Shubman Gill’s fluent 80, followed by unbeaten half-centuries from Axar Patel and Washington Sundar, guided the visitors to a comfortable victory.
Chasing a modest target of 259, India reached 262 for four in 45.2 overs to take a 1-0 lead in the series after an all-round performance that saw Axar excel with both bat and ball.
Gill set the tone for the chase with an elegant knock of 80 off 75 deliveries, striking 11 boundaries and a six. Looking in complete control, the skipper appeared set for a century before retiring hurt with what seemed to be a hamstring injury.
His departure briefly gave England hope as India slipped from 149 for two to 160 for four, but Axar and Washington combined in an unbroken partnership to ensure there were no further hiccups.
Axar remained unbeaten on 57 from 52 balls, while Washington finished on an unbeaten 52 off 63 deliveries as the pair calmly steered India home with 28 balls to spare.
Shreyas Iyer also chipped in with a useful 35 during the chase.
Earlier, England recovered from a disastrous start to post 258 all out in 47.5 overs after electing to bat.
The hosts found themselves in deep trouble at 107 for six after India’s bowlers made early inroads.
However, Joe Root and Liam Dawson staged a remarkable recovery with a seventh-wicket partnership of 121 runs that revived England’s innings.
Root anchored the innings with a composed unbeaten 76, once again demonstrating his class under pressure, while Dawson registered the highest score of his international career with a well-crafted 68 off 83 deliveries.
The pair rescued England from what looked like a complete collapse, but the lower order failed to build on the platform.
England lost their final four wickets for just 30 runs, leaving Root stranded unbeaten and denying the hosts the opportunity to post a more competitive total.
Axar was India’s standout performer with the ball, claiming four wickets for 62 runs to derail England’s middle order. Fast bowlers Prasidh Krishna and Gurnoor Brar provided valuable support by picking up two wickets apiece, ensuring England never fully capitalised despite the Root-Dawson partnership.
England’s total represented a significant recovery after a dramatic collapse in which they lost three wickets for just three runs in the space of six deliveries during the middle overs.
India’s victory also marked an impressive return of several senior players to the ODI setup.
The visitors fielded a stronger side than the one that featured in the recently concluded T20 International series, with experienced campaigners Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and Jasprit Bumrah returning alongside captain Gill.
England, meanwhile, endured a disappointing start under the new white-ball coaching setup as they struggled to match India’s all-round display. After dominating the T20I series, the hosts were unable to replicate that form in the 50-over format and now face a must-win situation in the second ODI at Cardiff to keep the series alive.
With the comprehensive victory, India take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series and will look to seal the contest when the teams meet again in the second ODI on Thursday. (Agencies)
