Table of Contents
England National Cricket Team premier fast bowler Jofra Archer has opened up on his rivalry with the India National Cricket Team teenage batting sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi.
Jofra Archer said that things currently stand even-steven between him and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi as far as the battle is concerned and expressed his excitement over their next two clashes in the ongoing five-time T20I series between India and England. Meanwhile, Indian politician has urged Vaibhav Sooryavanshi & India's young players to learn from Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli.
Jofra Archer and Josh Tongue rattle India in the 3rd T20I
England's pace attack proved far too strong for India's young batting line-up as Jofra Archer and Josh Tongue shared seven wickets to script a crushing 125-run victory in the third T20I at Trent Bridge. Chasing a daunting target of 202, India never recovered after losing wickets at regular intervals, eventually folding for just 76 in 11.4 overs — their lowest T20I total against England and the heaviest defeat by runs in their T20I history.
Tongue struck the first blow by dismissing Abhishek Sharma for 10, inducing a miscued slash to deep point with a 145kph short ball. Archer then removed 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, whose attempted hook against a sharp 145kph bouncer only managed a faint glove through to Jos Buttler. India slipped further when Tongue accounted for Ishan Kishan, who pulled another short delivery straight to deep backward square, leaving the visitors struggling at 41/3.
Archer ensured India had no way back by striking twice in the same over. Shreyas Iyer mistimed a leg-side half-volley to deep backward square before Axar Patel, after hitting a boundary and a six, edged a 146kph short ball behind to leave India reeling at 52/5 inside the powerplay. With Archer consistently bowling above 145kph and Tongue extracting steep bounce, the Indian batters found little room to settle.
Tongue returned to finish the job in emphatic fashion. Shivam Dube edged behind while trying to work a back-of-a-length delivery, and Harshit Rana became his fourth victim after slicing a cut shot to backward point. Archer finished with outstanding figures of 3/29 from three overs, while Tongue returned 4/28 in four overs. Their relentless pace, bounce and accuracy completely dismantled India's batting order, setting up one of England's most dominant T20I victories over the Men in Blue.
I think we bowled pretty well in Manchester - Jofra Archer
Speaking at the post-match press conference, Jofra Archer stated that he had a lot of fun bowling with Josh Tongue against the Indian batters. He said:
"Yeah, we (me and Josh Tongue) have a lot of fun every time we bowl. Sometimes it doesn't always go the way the wickets column, but I do enjoy bowling with them.
"No, not really. I think it's just how the lot went today. I think we bowled pretty well in Manchester. Neither of us really got the wickets to show for it, so we're just glad that we got something to do."
While sharing his views on the surface on the offer for the third T20I, Jofra Archer said:
"I don't think it was that pacey to be honest. I think it may have been a little bit two paced, but there was a strong wind. Honestly, I didn't really feel that way, but I altered the hand anyway."
Yeah, I think it's even now - Jofra Archer on battle with Vaibhav Sooryavanshi
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi registered his first six in international cricket by dispatching Jofra Archer for a stunning six in the second T20I. However, in the third T20I, the pacer got the better of the teenage batting sensation.
At the press conference, Jofra Archer was asked how he is enjoying bowling to his IPL teammate Sooryavanshi. He replied:
"Yeah, I think it's even now, but we've got another three or two games left and it could go anywhere. May the best man win."
Archer also made it pretty clear that attacking Vaibhav Sooryavanshi with bouncers was not the plan only for the 15-year-old, and they attempted to do that against all Indian batters. He said:
"No, bowling bouncers everyone, to be honest. Sometimes you've just got to hold your nerve. We held it long enough today and it paid off."
