ENG vs IND, 2nd T20I Review – Attacking India pocket T20I series
India won by 49 runs against England in the second T20I on July 9, Saturday, to take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series. Pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar was given Player of the Match for his bowling performance, finishing with three wickets for 15 runs in three overs, including a maiden.
It was England who won the toss and elected to bowl first. India began with a new opening combination of Rohit Sharma and Rishabh Pant, and they were off to a flyer, scoring 61 runs in the first six overs. Following that, India faced a slight setback once the debutant pacer Richard Gleeson got the ball.
The Indian skipper was the first one to depart after, scoring 31 runs off 20 balls. Virat Kohli was dismissed early for just 1, while Suryakumar Yadav (15) and Hardik Pandya (12) followed soon. India, at one stage, were struggling at 89/5 but then, Ravindra Jadeja revived the Indian innings at the backend, guiding India to a score of 170 in 20 overs with his unbeaten 46-run knock, including five fours.
India struck straight away in the England innings as Bhuvneshwar removed Jason Roy on the first ball. Skipper Jos Buttler had yet another forgetful outing with the bat, getting out to the same bowler for the second time in the series.
Moeen Ali walked in at number six, with England reeling at 41 for four wickets in the seventh over. The southpaw top-scored with 35 off 21 balls but was dismissed in the 15th over. David Willey, late in the innings, kept the English hopes alive, as he remained unbeaten on 33 off 22 balls, but it was not enough for the hosts as they were bowled out 121 in 17 overs. Yuzvendra Chahal was economic, picking two wickets for just 10 runs in two overs, while Jasprit Bumrah returned with identical figures in his three overs.
Top Performers of the match
Ravindra Jadeja
Jadeja came in with India needing a big contribution from him and he did exactly that as he scored unbeaten 46 off 29 balls and saw off the Indian innings as batters were struggling at the other end. It was also his highest score in the T20Is, beating his previous best of 45*.
Richard Gleeson
It was a dream debut with the ball for Gleeson as he picked up the key wickets of Rohit, Pant and Kohli, and swung the momentum in England’s favour. Until his arrival, it looked like India was on course to yet another big total, after his bowling partners David Willey and Sam Curran were taken for runs. But he ended with figures of three wickets, one maiden, conceding 15 runs in four overs.
What’s next for both sides?
England and India will meet again for the third and final T20I on July 10 in Nottingham.
