New Delhi: Varun Chakravarthy revelled in familiar conditions to set up India’s seven-wicket win over England in the opening match of a five-game T2OI series in Kolkata on Wednesday.
Chakravarthy, who plays for Kolkata Knight Riders in the Indian Premier League, claimed 3/23 as India’s sparkling bowling display bowled out England for only 132 runs in 20 overs after winning the toss and deciding to bowl.
India didn’t have much problem in reaching their traget, with Abhishek Sharma’s 34-ball 79 (5×4, 8×6) taking them past the finishng line in 12.5 overs.
Sharma nipped England’s hopes in the bud that was raised after India lost Sanju Samson (26 off 20 balls, 4×4, 1×6) and skipper Suryakumar Yadav (0) in the space of four balls to be reduced to 41/2 in 4.5 overs.
England didn’t do themselves any favours when Adil Rashid grassed a caught and bowled chance of Sharma in the eighth over when he was on 29. The left hander added salt to England’s wounds by hitting two sixes and a four after getting dropped.
He reached his half century off 20 balls, becoming the second fastest to reach fifty for India against England in T2OIs after his mentor Yuvraj Singh 12-ball blitzkrieg in Durban in 2007.
England caught in spin web
India left out returning pacer Mohammed Shami from the playing XI much to everyone’s surprise but didn’t have to suffer for it. The hosts opted for a spin heavy attack and that decision was vindicated as their spin troika of Chakravarthy , Axar Patel (2/22) and Ravi Bishnoi (0/22) claimed 5/67 in 12 overs between them.
As a result, India won with 43 balls to spare, makign it the win with most balls left in a successful run chase for India against England.
In dewy conditions, England were jolted by Arshdeep Singh’s opening spell as the left-arm seamer dismissed openers Phil Salt (0) and Ben Duckett (4) to become India’s leading T20I wicket-taker with 97 dismissals.
It set the tome after which the spinners took over, denying the tourists any respite as they keot loosing wickets at regular intervals with skipper Jos Buttler (68 off 44, 8×4, 2×6) playing a lone hand.
Varun Chakravarthy and Abhishek Sharma starred as India beat England by seven wickets in first T20Is in Kolkata. Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
