India vs England 2021, 1st T20I: England Take Series Lead In Dominant Fashion

The visitors England have started the five-match T20I series in strong fashion as they overpowered the hosts India in the series-opener on Friday (12th March) night, where they claimed an 8-wicket victory at Ahmedabad.

England captain Eoin Morgan chose to field first after winning the toss. While India scored 124/7 (20 overs), the visitors chased down the target in 15.3 overs after losing only both their openers.

India vs England 2021, 1st T20I

2nd innings (England): Jason Roy just missed his fifty but the visitors were very comfortable in chasing

England openers Jason Roy and Jos Buttler set up the solid start as the chase became easier for the visitors. They built up the 72 runs partnership for the opening wicket, after scoring 50 runs in the powerplay.

Yuzvendra Chahal finally brought the breakthrough as he got the wicket of wicket-keeper batsman Buttler who scored 28 runs. Roy batted very well but just missed his fifty as Washington Sundar dismissed him for 49 runs off 32 balls (4 fours and 3 sixes).

But the next batsmen Dawid Malan and Jonny Bairstow easily finished the game despite having a few lucky moments for them in those short innings. While Malan scored 24 not out off 20 balls (2 fours and only six), Bairstow scored 26 not out off 17 balls (only four and 2 sixes).

1st innings (India): Shreyas Iyer’s 67 was the only good show for India in the game

While the limited-overs vice-captain Rohit Sharma was rested, England got the powerful start. At first, Jofra Archer bowled the opener KL Rahul (1) in the second over while captain Virat Kohli scored a duck as Adil Rashid picked up that wicket in the third over of that innings. At that time, India were struggling on 3/2.

In the 5th over of that innings, another opener Shikhar Dhawan also returned to the dressing room after scoring just 4 runs as Mark Wood picked up that wicket. India scored 22/3 at the end of the powerplay.

Then wicket-keeper batsman Rishabh Pant and Shreyas Iyer tried to handle the situation and built the 28 runs partnership for the fourth wicket. But Ben Stokes brought the breakthrough by taking the wicket of Pant, who scored 21 runs.

Then Shreyas Iyer and Hardik Pandya tried to control the situation. Their partnership managed to stop India’s wickets fall but it failed to pick up the run-rate. Iyer completed his third T20I fifty in 36 balls.

Iyer and Hardik put the 54 runs partnership for the fifth wicket but Archer finally ended that partnership in the 18th over after taking the wicket of Hardik for 19 runs.

On the next ball, Archer dismissed Shardul Thakur. Archer was on a hat-trick on the next ball but it was a wide-ball. In the final over, Jordan took the wicket of Iyer, who scored 67 off 48 balls (8 fours and only six).

England pacer Jofra Archer had bowling figures of 4-1-23-3.

Brief Scores: India – 124/7 in 20 overs (Shreyas Iyer 67, Rishabh Pant 21; Jofra Archer 3/23)

England – 130/2 in 15.3 overs (Jason Roy 49, Jos Buttler 28; Washington Sundar 1/18)

Result – England won by 8 wickets