Joe Root’s (100*) consecutive second ODI century and skipper Eoin Morgan’s unbeaten 88 helped the England team to clinch a comfortable 8 wickets victory (with 33 balls remaining) against India in the third and final ODI of the three-match ODI series at Headingley (Leeds) on Tuesday. This victory helped the English team to win the ODI series by the 2-1 margin.
England team restricted the visitors to 256/8 at the end of first 50 overs. In reply, England reached the target in 44.3 overs after losing only their both openers (260/2).
English captain Eoin Morgan decided to field first after winning the toss. India had a poor start as their opener Rohit Sharma fell on just 2. Then another opener Shikhar Dhawan and skipper Virat Kohli created an important 71-run partnership for the second wicket.
But since that partnership was broken, India lost their wickets in regular intervals. While Dhawan was run out for 44 off 49 balls (7 fours), Kohli carried the innings and scored a brilliant half-century in 55 balls. Later, Kohli was bowled out for 71 off 72 balls (8 fours) after the English leggie Adil Rashid delivered a beauty that surprised everyone including Kohli.
Dinesh Karthik failed to utilise a good opportunity as he was bowled by Adil Rashid for 21 off 22 balls. MS Dhoni held the wicket from one side for a long time and scored 42 off 66 balls with 4 fours while Hardik Pandya scored 21 runs.
In the end, Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Shardul Thakur played some important knocks that helped the Indian team to cross the 250-run mark. Kumar scored 21 off 35 balls while Shardul was unbeaten on 22 off 13 balls (2 sixes). These knocks helped the visiting to put 256/8 on the board at the end of 50 overs.
Among the English bowlers, left-arm pacer David Willey (3/40) and leg-spinner Adil Rashid (3/49) picked up three wickets each while another right-arm pacer Mark Wood (1/30) claimed a wicket.
In reply, England lost their openers James Vince (27) and Jonny Bairstow (30), but the Indian bowlers failed to take any more wickets as the English batsmen Joe Root and skipper Eoin Morgan put an unbroken 186-run partnership to seal the match as well as the series victory.
Morgan was not out on 88 runs off 108 balls while Root completed his second consecutive ODI century in the final ball by hitting a four (100 not out off 120 balls).
Shardul Thakur (1/51) was the only Indian bowler to pick up a wicket in this game while Vince was run-out.
Brief Score: India – 256/8 in 50 overs (Virat Kohli 71, Shikhar Dhawan 44; David Willey 3/40)
England – 260/2 in 44.3 overs (Joe Root 100*, Eoin Morgan 88*; Shardul Thakur 1/51)
Result – England won by eight wickets and won the series by 2-1
Here are some twitter reactions
Jeet beshak hothon par muskurahat laati hai,
Lekin haar hi Zindagi ka ek Naya Sabak sikhlaati hai.
I am sure India would learn a lot from this and turn things around quickly.#ENGvIND— Virender Sehwag (@virendersehwag) July 17, 2018
Happy takeaway for India from this series is that Adil Rashid — and likely even Moeen Ali — will not be in the Test series
— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) July 17, 2018
Omitting Rahul and even Umesh was not inspired selection…
— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) July 17, 2018
India were outplayed and have a lot of thinking to do before the World cup. Hope this defeat serves as a blessing in disguise and they are able to arrive at a settled combination. Congratulations to England. #ENGvIND
— Mohammad Kaif (@MohammadKaif) July 17, 2018
So 3-3 after 6 white ball games. I suspect though that India would gladly trade the T20 series win for a better odi result.
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) July 17, 2018
Stroll in the park now … England making a very very good India Team look distinctly average today … #ENGvIND
— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) July 17, 2018
Magnificent MS Dhoni 💪#MSDhoni #INDvENG pic.twitter.com/TswpG2H8L9
— Bappa Samui (@bappamsdian) July 17, 2018
#ENGvIND #ENGvsIND With this team we are not going to win WC for sure. Dhoni and raina need to be out from team asap. Try shaw and pant for god shake.Go world cup with young guns.
— FB (@imfadk) July 17, 2018
This is India's 1 series loss after 9 Consecutive series wins
👉Batting failed
👉Bowling failed
👉Bad fielding effortsJust want India to come stronger In Test Series
ComeOn India, Bounce back
💪💪💪#ENGvIND #INDvENG #IndVSEng #ENGvsIND— Anurag (@Anurag32485641) July 17, 2018
Biggest outcome of ODI series is Joe Root has run into terrific form. That's bad news for India heading into the Test series
— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) July 17, 2018
India's bowling looking toothless at this stage. Root's reading of Kuldeep has been excellent
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) July 17, 2018
India have experimented with 7 players KL Rahul, Rahane, Kedar Jadhav, Manish Pandey, Shreyas Iyer, Karthik, Raina for the two middle over slots. Don't seem to have still settled on both positions.
Feel Krunal and Rayudu might get a look in. Who has been your best pick? #ENGvIND— Mohammad Kaif (@MohammadKaif) July 17, 2018
Curious series. England looked as if they might be steamrolled after the first game, but their bowlers then conceded only 236 and 256-8 on pitches that seemed to suit India. And Joe Root showed his class. Bring on the Tests!
— Lawrence Booth (@the_topspin) July 17, 2018
JOE ROOT TO INDIAN BOWLERS:#ENGvIND pic.twitter.com/Ln6cYvQCzo
— Aslam Malik (@bajrangi_Aslam) July 17, 2018
Ye MS Dhoni Ka Odi Mai Bhi Test Inning Khelna Zaroori hai kya? #ENGvIND #3rdODI #ViratKohli #MSDhoni pic.twitter.com/0swxOWnSFO
— Harshit Pachouri (@Instastariam) July 17, 2018
Shardul Thakur is only the 2nd player to hit a SIX for India in this ODI series. Rohit Sharma hit four sixes in the first match in Nottingham. #ENGvIND
— Sampath Bandarupalli (@SampathStats) July 17, 2018
