India vs England 2021, 1st ODI: India Snatch Away An Impressive Victory After All-Round Show, Including Shinning Debutants

The hosts India have taken the 1-0 lead in the three-match ODI series after beating the visitors England in a dramatic way by 66 runs in the first ODI.

After England captain Eoin Morgan sent the hosts to bat first, India scored 317/5 in 50 overs. Later, England were bowled out for 251 runs in 42.1 overs.

India vs England 2021, 1st ODI

2nd innings (England): Furious opening partnership ultimately went in vain

England openers Jason Roy and Jonny Bairstow provided the firing start for the visitors who first scored 89/0 at the end of the first powerplay. England completed 100 runs in just 11.3 overs while Bairstow already completed his half-century in 40 balls. They had the 135 runs opening partnership before debutant Prasidh Krishna dismissed Roy for 46 runs off 35 balls (7 fours and only six) in the 15th over.

In his next over, Krishna took the wicket of Ben Stokes (1). But Bairstow continued his impressive batting. When Shardul Thakur finally dismissed Bairstow in the 23rd over, England were batting on 169 runs while the English opener scored 94 off just 66 balls with the help of 6 fours and 7 sixes. After that dismissal, the visitors lost their next wickets at regular intervals as slowly they moved away from their chasing despite having many balls left in the game.

Apart from the English openers, only captain Eoin Morgan (22) and Moeen Ali (30) managed to reach the 20-run marks in that innings.

Prasidh Krishna delivered India’s best-ever ODI debutant bowling figures as he finished the match with bowling figures of 8.1-1-54-4. Also, Shardul Thakur (3/37) got three wickets and Bhuvneshwar Kumar (2/30) picked up two wickets while another debutant Krunal Pandya (1/59) got the other one wicket in that innings.

1st innings (India): 4 50s, including Shikhar Dhawan’s 98

Openers Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan provided a solid start with the 64 runs partnership before Ben Stokes dismissed Rohit (28 runs). Though they scored 39 runs in the first powerplay, they set up the 64 runs partnership in 15 overs.

But then Dhawan and skipper Virat Kohli controlled that innings and set up a century partnership. For the second wicket, Dhawan and Kohli built up the 105 runs partnership. While Dhawan scored fifty in 68 balls, Kohli reached the same mark in 50 balls.

Mark Wood finally brought the breakthrough by dismissing Kohli for 56 off 60 balls (6 fours). Since then, India lost some regular wickets, including Dhawan’s dismissal on 98 runs off 106 balls (11 fours and 2 sixes). Ben Stokes took that wicket in 39th over of the match as captain Eoin Morgan took the catch at midwicket.

Shreyas Iyer (6) and Hardik Pandya (1) lost their wickets cheaply as India were struggling on 205/5, despite earlier scoring 169/1.

KL Rahul finally got his form back while ODI debutant Krunal Pandya shined with the bat and India finally managed the 300+ total due to the strong sixth-wicket partnership. In the last ten overs, the hosts added 112 runs for the loss of one wicket, including scoring 67/0 in the last five overs.

Rahul and Krunal had the 112 runs partnership for the unbroken sixth wicket. While Rahul completed his fifty in 39 balls, Krunal recorded the fastest fifty on the T20I debut as he completed it earlier in just 26 balls. While Rahul scored 62 not out off 43 balls (4 fours and 4 sixes), Krunal scored 58 not out off 31 balls (7 fours and 2 sixes).

Among the England bowlers, only Ben Stokes (8-1-34-3) and Mark Wood (10-1-75-2) got the wickets.

Brief Scores: India – 317/5 in 50 overs (Shikhar Dhawan 98, KL Rahul 62*; Ben Stokes 3/34)

England – 251 in 42.1 overs (Jonny Bairstow 94, Jason Roy 46; Prasidh Krishna 4/54)

Result – India won by 66 runs