For the 2nd time in as many ODIs, the spectators were treated to a run feast. For the 4th time in the series, the batting team scored at least 350 runs in their innings. While cynics may point that such an imbalance between bat and ball is not good for the game, the fact remains that in the shorter formats of the game, spectators and fans all around the world want to see high scoring matches with plenty of boundaries. Both India and England have plenty of depth in batting and that allied with small grounds and flat pitches means that huge scores are always on the cards. Here is the complete match report.

Eoin Morgan won the toss and elected to field. Chris Woakes got England off to a great start taking 3 early wickets with the new ball. After his first spell he had figures of 5-3-14-3 and India were reduced to 25/3 and things were looking bleak. However, the silver lining was that their 2 most experienced players in Yuvraj and Dhoni were at the crease. Both players were cautious to begin with, given the precarious situation that India found themselves in. In the past, teams used to consolidate their innings once there was a flurry of wickets without placing too much emphasis on the run rate. However, because of the advent of Twenty20 cricket, modern day cricketers continue to play their shots, irrespective of how many wickets have fallen.

Once Dhoni and Yuvraj got themselves in, almost the entire innings looked like a highlights package. Initially, Dhoni was content to play second fiddle to Yuvraj but as the innings progressed he also went after the bowling. Yuvraj reached his century by working Liam Plunkett through square leg for a single. The English bowlers tested Yuvraj and Dhoni with short deliveries which were dealt harshly by both batsmen. Dhoni also reached his century by pulling Woakes to square leg. Yuvraj was dismissed for 150 when he was caught behind by Buttler off the bowling of Chris Woakes. His knock came off 127 balls with 21 fours and 3 sixes.

Dhoni was dismissed for 134 when he struck a full toss from Plunkett into the hands of Willey at deep square leg. His knock came off 122 balls with 10 fours and 6 sixes. Hardik Pandya provided the finishing kick to the innings with an unbeaten 19 off just 9 balls with 2 fours and a six. Inia finished their innings at 381/6 from their allotted 50 overs.

For England to get anywhere close to India’s total, they needed a good start. Hales was the first batsman to depart when he was caught behind by Dhoni off the bowling of Bumrah. Root and Roy gave England hope with a century partnership before Root was dismissed for 54. Jadeja dealt a body blow to England’s chances when he bowled Roy for 82. Buttler showed his intentions when he struck Ashwin for a four over mid-wicket. He scored 10 before he was stumped by Dhoni off the bowling of Ashwin. Moeen Ali and Morgan kept England in the hunt with a quick partnership of 93 before Moeen was bowled by Bhuvneshwar Kumar for 55.

Ravindra Jadeja bowled his 10 overs for just 45 runs and picked up 1 wicket. This was a stupendous effort taking into account that both teams scored at more than 7 runs an over. Ravichandran Ashwin showed what a street smart cricketer he is by changing his approach. In the first ODI, he bowled with the intention of just stifling the flow of runs. However, in the 2nd ODI he went for wickets and managed to extract some turn from the wicket. He took 3 wickets while conceding 65 runs off his 10 overs. His spell showed that even in the shorter formats, spinners should look to go for wickets, rather than just bowling negatively and try and keep the runs down.

Morgan played a captain’s innings and batted sensibly without missing out on any opportunity to score. England needed 78 runs off 35 balls when Woakes failed to pick a slower delivery from Bumrah and was comprehensively bowled. Morgan became the 3rd centurion in this match and as long as he was there at the crease, England were in with a chance even though the overs were running out and the asking rate was spiralling out of control. Bumrah struck the final nail in England’s coffin when he collected a straight drive from Plunkett and ran out Morgan at the non-striker’s end. Morgan’s knock of 102 came off 81 balls with 6 fours and 5 sixes.

India restricted England to 366/8 off their 50 overs and emerged victorious by 15 runs. Hardik Pandya bowled 6 overs conceding 60 runs. Bumrah bowled 9 runs for 81 runs and picked up 2 wickets. A special mention needs to me made of the excellent bowling of both Bhuvneshwar and Bumrah at the death. They were spot on in their execution of yorkers and did not give the English batsmen any loose deliveries to hit.

Yuvraj was named the Man of the Match for his blistering innings. The 3rd ODI is at Kolkata on the 22nd of January.