ENG vs IND: 2nd ODI Review – Reece Topley hands equaliser to England
Reece Topley’s 6 for 24 highlighted a strong England bowling effort as they defeated India by 100 runs in the second One-Day International at Lord’s on Thursday, levelling the series at 1-1. After a terrific show in the first game, India got a taste of their own medicine when England bowlers restricted the Indian batting lineup from chasing the target at the home of cricket.
Little did anyone anticipate that the visitors would mysteriously disintegrate for a pitiful 146 in 38.5 overs in the face of a superb seam and swing bowling from Topley when the Indian bowlers put on another stunning display to bowl out England for 246 in 49 overs. Having won the first game by 10 wickets, India had an opportunity to sail through and win the series, but the Englishmen did not let that happen.
India bowled out England for a respectable total thanks to Yuzvendra Chahal’s deft variations and Hardik Pandya’s consistent bowling. As England’s total had some appearance of credibility after the dreaded top-order promised much more but produced little, Moeen Ali was the one who redirected the first innings in favor of the hosts.
There was only one outcome possible when the scoreboard saw some mere runs as Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma walked off the field early whereas Virat Kohli and Rishabh Pant returned to the dressing room shortly after the first Powerplay. Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya, and Ravindra Jadeja tried to put out their best, but could not withstand England’s bowling attack.
Thus, England won the game by a whopping 100-runs and gave India a terrific reply to the previous defeat.
Top Performers of the match
Reece Topley
The English bowler registered his career-best figures of 6/24, which is now the best bowling figure recorded at the Lord’s Cricket Ground in Men’s ODI. His six-wicket haul included the wickets of Rohit Sharma, Dhawan, Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Chahal, and Prasidh Krishna. Additionally, Topley became just the second fast bowler at Lord’s to notch up a six-wicket haul.
Yuzvendra Chahal
It was a day for the bowlers as Chahal shined for the Indian side in the first innings. The spinner returned with 4/47 in his 10-over spell and scalped the prized wickets of Jonny Bairstow, Joe Root, Ben Stokes, and Moeen Ali.
What’s next for both sides?
The two sides will now be squaring off for the third and final ODI, to decide the winner of the series, at Old Trafford in Manchester on Sunday, July 17.
