Picture : Twitter / BCCI
After losing the T20 series against India 2-3, England hoped to bounce back with a good show in the first ODI of the Three match series at Pune. But the Eoin Morgan led side once again flopped and lost by 66 runs.
Morgan did get it right at first winning the toss . But asked India to bat first . And Indian batsmen rose to the challenge to post an imposing 317/5 in their 50 overs . The opening stand was 64 runs for the first wicket with Rohit Sharma fell for 28 . Shikhar Dhawan blasted his way back to form with a fine 98 . he was unlucky to miss a well deserved ton. he struck 11 fours and 2 sixes in his knock. Skipper Virat Kohli too looked in sublime touch scoring 56 off 60 balls with six fours. Getting an opportunity in place of rested Rishabh Pant, K L Rahul put back his horror T20 series run with a aggressive unbeaten 62 off 43 balls with four fours and four sixes . Debutant Krunal Pandya made it special with an unbeaten knock of 58 off 31 balls with 7 fours and two sixes . India finished with 317/5 in their 50 overs.
English bowlers were sent on a leather hunt . Their figures said it all . Mark Wood 2/75 ( 10 overs) , Sam Curran 0/48 ( 10 overs), Tom Curran 0/63 ( 10 overs) Ben Stokes was impressive 3/34 ( 8 overs) , Adil Rashid 0/66 ( 9 overs), Moeen Ali 0/28 ( 3 0vers). England badly missed Jofra Archer, who is injured.
In reply England struggled with wickets falling at regular intervals . Jason Roy (46 ) off 35 balls , 7 fours 1 six , Jonny Bairstow ( 94) off 66 balls , six fours and 7 sixes were the only bright spots in the tough chase. The rest crumbled under pressure Ben Stokes ( 1) , Jos Buttler ( 2), Skipper Eoin Morgan ( 22) , Sam Billings ( 18) , Moeen Ali ( 30). England all -out at 251-10 in 42.1 overs.
Indian bowling once again held its nerve. Bhuvneshwar Kumar 2/30 ( 9 overs), debutant Prasidh Krishna impressed with 4/54 ( 8.1 overs), Shardul Thakur 3/37 ( 6 overs), Krunal Pandya 1/59 ( 10 overs), Kuldeep Yadav 0/68 ( 9 overs).
