On Tuesday, Team India registered a comfortable 66-run win over England in the first ODI of the three-match series at the Maharashtra Cricket Stadium, Pune. After being asked to bat first, the hosts managed to put a decent total of 317 for 5 in the allotted 50 overs. During the chase, England started on a dominating note before losing their way and was eventually all out for 251 in the 43rd over.
Jason Roy (94) and Jonny Bairstow came out all guns blazing as they added 89 without loss in the first ten overs. They put up a 135-run partnership in just 87 deliveries before debutant Prasidh Krishna getting the wicket of Roy for 46 to give India the much-needed wicket. India made the most of the breakthrough as the visiting team lost their next five wickets for 40 runs and they were reeling at 176 for 5.
WATCH – Krunal Pandya Breaks Down While Dedicating His Fifty To His Late Father
After dismissing Roy, Krishna dismissed Ben Stokes before Shardul Thakur dismissed Bairstow, Eoin Morgan, and Jos Buttler in quick succession to put India on top. Sam Billings and Moeen Ali added 41 runs for the 6th wicket but after the former’s dismissal once again derailed England’s chase. England’s tail could not delay the inevitable for long as the visitors lost their last five wickets for just 34 runs. For India, Krishna was the pick of the bowlers, taking 4 wickets while Thakur picked three wickets.
Earlier in the game, debutant Krunal Pandya and KL Rahul played dominating knocks to help India recover from a precarious position and post a defendable score of 317 for 5 in the allotted 50 overs. Apart from them, Shikhar Dhawan (98) and Virat Kohli (56) scored in the fifties too.
However, Dhawan and Rohit Sharma started cautiously after Eoin Morgan asked India to bat. Rohit and Dhawan added 64 runs for the first wicket before the former departed for 28. It was followed by a 105-run stand between Dhawan and Kohli. Mark Wood broke the partnership by dismissing Kohli to reduce India to 169 for 2.
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Kohli’s dismissal triggered a mini-collapse for the hosts as they lost three wickets in quick succession and they were reeling at 5 down for 205. But before England could make more inroads, Krunal and Rahul steadied the ship and took their bowlers to the cleaners. They shared an unbeaten stand of 112 runs off just 57 deliveries to take the score to 317. Krunal surpassed the 50-run mark off just 26 deliveries and remained unbeaten on 58 while Rahul reached his fifty off 39 balls and remained unbeaten on 62.
Here is how Twitter reacted to the match:
The start was theirs, but the end belonged to us! 🇮🇳
Remarkable performance from #TeamIndia… Terrific debut by @krunalpandya24 & @prasidh43, right on the money!#INDvENG pic.twitter.com/IEWMnrf8hb
— DK (@DineshKarthik) March 23, 2021
Don’t worry about his economy rate. Shardul is your game changer with wickets at crucial times. Does it quite regularly for India. 👍
— Sanjay Manjrekar (@sanjaymanjrekar) March 23, 2021
Indian team is back in the game. Brilliant from @imShard and @prasidh43
— Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan) March 23, 2021
Of all the skill on show today @BhuviOfficial has been the best … He has to be the most skilful white ball seam bowler in the world … #INDvENG
— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) March 23, 2021
Best figures on debut for India, well bowled @prasidh43! 👏
— Nikhil 🏏 (@CricCrazyNIKS) March 23, 2021
Prasidh Krishna – first Indian bowler to take four (or more) wickets on ODI debut.
16 other players picked three wickets on ODI debut for India, with Hyderabad off-spinner Noel David holding the best figures among the 16 – 3/21 vs West Indies in Port of Spain in 1997.#INDvENG— Deepu Narayanan (@deeputalks) March 23, 2021
What a unique coincidence !!! Two brothers playing against two brothers!!! But nothing like Indian brotherhood 🇮🇳 #INDvENG
— SONAL CHAUHAN (@sonalchauhan7) March 23, 2021
There are comebacks and then there's this!! Take a bow team India! And especially 'Prasidh' Krishna and Thakur saab! #INDvENG @prasidh43 @imShard pic.twitter.com/w5EkGHSKHF
— Wasim Jaffer (@WasimJaffer14) March 23, 2021
Don’t worry about his economy rate. Shardul is your game changer with wickets at crucial times. Does it quite regularly for India. 👍
— Sanjay Manjrekar (@sanjaymanjrekar) March 23, 2021
Wicket Takooor 👏👏 #INDvsENG
— Ashwin 🇮🇳 (@ashwinravi99) March 23, 2021
Wickets wickets that’s what wins you cricket matches! 100 in 10 but india just stayed in and then wickets! Superb win.
— Boria Majumdar (@BoriaMajumdar) March 23, 2021
https://twitter.com/FarziCricketer/status/1374390691241947140?s=20
