Alex Hales’ brilliant responsible knock helped England to secure a crucial victory in the second T20I of three-match T20I series against India at Sophia Gardens (Cardiff) on Friday night. India was restricted to 148/5 in 20 overs while England reached the target in 19.4 overs after losing five wickets. England levelled the three-match T20I series by 1-1 after winning this second T20I by 5 wickets (with 2 balls remaining).
English captain Eoin Morgan decided to field first after winning the toss. India had a poor start as they went down on 22/3. Later, the skipper Virat Kohli and middle-order batsman Suresh Raina protected the team’s innings with a 57-run partnership for the fourth wicket.
While Raina was dismissed for 27 runs off 20 balls at the crucial stage, Kohli stretched his innings. With a responsible batting performance, Kohli scored 47 runs off 38 balls (one four and two sixes) before getting out.
MS Dhoni and Hardik Pandya added some more important runs on the board at the last moment that helped the team to reach the close of 150-mark.
Dhoni remained unbeaten on 32 runs off 24 balls (5 fours) while Pandya was not out on 12 off 10 balls (only six).
Among the English bowlers, David Willey (1/18), Jake Ball (1/44), Liam Plunkett (1/17) and Adil Rashid (1/29) all picked up one wicket each.
In reply, England didn’t get a good start as their top-order batsmen were dismissed in regular intervals. While Jason Roy (15 runs), in-form Jos Buttler (14 runs) and Joe Root (9 runs) all departed quickly, Alex Hales and Eoin Morgan tried to bring in control that innings. They put 48-run partnership for the fourth wicket, but Morgan lost his wicket on just 17 runs.
While Hales carried his team with a very mature and responsible batting performance, Jonny Bairstow played an important role. Before losing his wicket at the crucial moment, Bairstow scored 28 runs off 18 balls with two sixes.
However, Hales made no mistake and took the game in the home with a brilliant unbeaten knock of 58 runs off 41 balls with 4 fours and 3 sixes. David Willey, who scored the winning runs, was not out on 3 off 6 balls. England reached the target in 19.4 overs after losing five wickets.
Among the Indian bowlers, Umesh Yadav (2/36) grabbed two wickets while Bhuvneshwar Kumar (1/19), Hardik Pandya (1/28) and Yuzvendra Chahal (1/28) got one wicket each. Bhuvneshwar bowled the last over, who had an impressive bowling figure (3-0-7-1) before that over and had to defend 12 runs in that over, but he badly failed to protect that as Hales dominated over him.
Here are some Twitter reactions:
Taut match, splendid win for England. Towards the end appeared they would succumb. But Hales superb under pressure. Stage set for decider!
— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) July 6, 2018
Was a pretty decent defence of an inadequate total. #ENGvIND
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) July 6, 2018
Brilliant from @msdhoni in the end. England have done well but the 22 of the last over has given India a decent total to bowl at #EngvInd
— Mohammad Kaif (@MohammadKaif) July 6, 2018
Fantastic nights entertainment … England’s bowlers tonight were outstanding … 1-1 #ENGvIND #OnOn
— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) July 6, 2018
Wicket fell down in 5 seconds and Sony Six showing Ads of 30 seconds….
What the hell am i watching?#ENGvsIND @SPNSportsIndia
— Rahul (@iamRahul66) July 6, 2018
https://twitter.com/rajjatkarekar/status/1015334248335622144
I am afraid @imkuldeep18 is going to bamboozle Batsman around the world for many years !!!!!! #ENGvsIND
— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) July 6, 2018
https://twitter.com/SirJadejaaaa/status/1015318794728697856
https://twitter.com/SirJadejaaaa/status/1015308379575803906
Well played India and specially the bowlers ! Lets buckle up for final T20 and show "who's better than whom"#ENGvIND #BleedBlue #INDvsENG pic.twitter.com/GXoJOmyzxA
— Meet Parmar (@meett_77) July 6, 2018
England have done their homework against Kuldeep. Have played him well.
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) July 6, 2018
Unbelivable @BCCI lost the match .Shows the absence of @Jaspritbumrah93 .Hope you come back soon #INDvsENG #ENGvIND
— Steniher45 (@Steniher2) July 6, 2018
https://twitter.com/nandinishah_/status/1015336807578234880
Kuldeep Yadav
Ghar Se. Kuch dur.
Nikalte he. Chalte he.
👇👇👇. 👇👇👇.
5 Wickets. 4-0-34-0— VANSH SONI❁ (@iamvanshsoni) July 6, 2018
