India all-rounder Axar Patel produced a timely breakthrough by dismissing Jos Buttler during the second ODI against England at Sophia Gardens in Cardiff, keeping the visitors firmly in the contest while defending a modest target of 234. After bowling India out for 233, England found themselves under early pressure but recovered through a valuable partnership between Joe Root and Jos Buttler.
With the hosts at 94/4 in the 20th over, Buttler walked in with positive intent and quickly shifted the momentum. The former England captain struck a boundary and a six, looking well set to guide his side towards the target.
Sensing the growing threat, India captain Shubman Gill brought Axar Patel back into the attack in the 26th over. The decision paid immediate dividends. On the fourth delivery, Axar bowled a clever arm ball from a slightly shorter length that skidded through after pitching. Buttler attempted an ambitious shot but was beaten on the inside edge as the ball crashed into middle stump.
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The England wicketkeeper-batter departed for 17 off 18 deliveries, ending a 31-run partnership with Root. His dismissal left England at 125/5, still requiring 109 runs, and shifted the momentum back in India’s favour. Interestingly, Buttler had hit Axar for a six in the spinner’s previous over, but the left-arm all-rounder responded brilliantly to claim the crucial wicket.
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Axar Patel castles Jos Buttler to swing the momentum India’s way. 💥
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Axar has enjoyed an impressive turnaround in the ODI series after enduring a difficult T20I campaign. In the series opener at Edgbaston, he starred with a match-winning all-round performance, picking up 4/62 before smashing an unbeaten 57 from just 52 balls during India’s successful chase.
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His bowling spell included the wickets of Liam Dawson, Jofra Archer, Adil Rashid and Josh Tongue, making it one of the best performances by an Indian spinner in England. Axar also joined an elite list of spinners to score a fifty and take four or more wickets in the same ODI on English soil, underlining his growing importance in India’s white-ball setup.
