On this day in 2011: Cricket wins as India and England play out a thrilling tie
Exactly on this day 12 years ago, India and England played out an absolute classic when they locked horns against each other in Bengaluru at the 2011 World Cup. It was the second game of their respective campaigns in the tournament. India had started their campaign with a thumping 87-run win over Bangladesh while England had thrashed the Netherlands by six wickets in their tournament opener. A thrilling contest was on the cards and India and England did not disappoint as the high-scoring game ended in a tie.
The Master Blaster takes on England
Barring a clear-cut winner, the game had it all – two stunning centuries, a maiden five-wicket haul and plenty of drama. MS Dhoni decided to bat first after winning the toss and his decision turned out to be a correct one as India piled up 338 runs. Virender Sehwag gave the hosts a typically fast start by slamming 35 off 26 balls before being dismissed by Tim Bresnan when the score was 46. New man Gautam Gambhir continued Sehwag’s tempo while Sachin Tendulkar looked more than content to play the role of the second fiddle at the other end.
Things, however, changed for Tendulkar after he changed his bat in the 17th over as he hit two stunning sixes to reach his fifty. There was no looking back for the Master Blaster from that point. The legendary batsman reached his 47th ODI century off 103 balls with a four off Bresnan in the 35th over. His stunning 120-run knock came to an end in the 39th over before Yuvraj Singh (58) and MS Dhoni (31) took India beyond the 300-run mark. India, however, failed to finish strongly as they managed to collect just 11 runs in the last two overs. Bresnan starred with the ball for England as he conceded just 2 runs in the 49th over and picked up 3 wickets to complete his maiden 5-wicket haul.
Strauss leads the chase
Despite the poor finish from India, the game looked beyond England’s reach when the hosts ended their innings. However, England skipper Andrew Strauss had some other ideas. Strauss and Kevin Pietersen came out all guns blazing and gave England a solid start by sharing a 68-run standoff 57 balls. Munaf Patel broke the stand when he dismissed Pietersen for 31. But the breakthrough did not bring any respite for Dhoni and his teammates as Strauss kept England on track for a famous win.
He was ably supported by Ian Bell as the duo scored at a quick pace. Strauss reached his sixth ODI ton off 99 deliveries while Bell reached his fifty off just 45 balls with a maximum. The way the two were batting, it looked all over for India before the game turned on its head in the 43rd over. At 280 for 2 in the 43rd over, England were well on top before Zaheer Khan helped India claw their way back in the game. The legendary pacer broke the stand by dismissing Bell for 69 before accounting for Strauss (158) on the very following delivery.
Paul Collingwood, Matt Prior and Michael Yardy soon followed as England found themselves reeling at 307 for 7 in the 48th over. But just when it looked like India would register a hard-fought win, England’s lower order changed the complexion of the game by hitting a handful of sixes. In the end, England needed two off the final ball and Swann could manage only one off Munaf’s delivery as the Strauss-led ended on 338 for 8.
