The second ODI of India vs England series lived up to the two sides’ respective rankings, delivering a humdinger of a match.
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England’s superb and, at times, brutal chase set up a series decider at the MCA Stadium in Pune.
India vs England | Third ODI | Sunday 28 March 2021 | Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium, Pune | 10:00
India
India’s
bowling attack was decimated by a clinical England batting effort and they will
need to bounce back by finding a way to contain the tourists.
Rookie
Prasidh Krishna stood out as the pick of the bowlers, with senior players
letting the side down. Kuldeep Yadav was particularly expensive, and the
left-arm wrist-spinner looks in danger of getting the axe. India desperately
need a wicket-taking spinner to topple the world champions and keep themselves
on track for the 2023 World Cup, which they will host.
Virat
Kohli may have made a fifty but he again fell victim to Adil Rashid, giving the
England leg-spinner the wood over the India skipper.
KL
Rahul’s hundred looked like it had given India the platform for a winning
score, but England proved too potent and the hosts will need to adjust their
expectations coming into the series finale.
England
England
were without inspirational skipper Eoin Morgan for the second ODI and will have
to do without him in the final match of their tour.
Jos
Buttler led England to victory, although his own innings was a three-ball duck.
The team looked every bit world champions, though, with Ben Stokes relishing
coming in up the order. Stokes was desperately unlucky to miss out on a
century, holing out on 99.
England
have an impressive top order that is in great form fronted by two of the best
openers in the game, with Jason Roy looking great throughout the tour and Jonny
Bairstow pounding a century in the second ODI.
The
allrounders in the team give England variety with the ball and tremendous depth
of batting which ensures there are few teams that can match them when they are
firing.
Verdict: England
The world champions seem to be on a roll now.
Written by James Richardson.
