England defeated India by 27 runs in the decisive third ODI to bag the three-match series 2-1 on Sunday, July 19. It turned out to be a run-fest at the iconic Lord’s Cricket Ground in London as England had just too many runs on the board.
Jacob Bethell and Ben Duckett added 192 runs off 181 balls to give England a great launching pad. After the former was dismissed for 91, Joe Root joined Duckett and they forged a 101-run stand in quick time. The opening batter was dismissed for 141 off 135 balls and Harry Brook failed to make much of an impact once again. However, Root and Jos Buttler’s enthralling 63-run partnership off 19 balls helped England get to a massive score of 387/3.
In reply, Rohit Sharma silenced his doubters by scoring a sensational century. Shubman Gill also scored a solid half-century as the opening duo added 147 runs inside 25 overs. After Gill departed for 77, Virat Kohli and Rohit added 113 runs in just 86 balls.
Rohit was eventually dismissed for 138 and England capitalised on this opening. From 260/1, India slumped to 329/7. The collapse was too big and India had no chance to recover from it. Gurnoor Brar and Arshdeep Singh hit a few boundaries at the end during an unbeaten 31-run partnership as the tourists were restricted to 360/7.
ENG vs IND: Talking Points
Rohit Sharma returns to form in style
Rohit Sharma had scored 11 and 26 in the first two matches and there were reports that this could be his last international appearance. However, the BCCI secretary had rubbished the reports. On Sunday, the veteran batter silenced his critics by playing a brilliant knock under pressure. In 110 balls, he smashed 138 runs, hitting 17 fours and five sixes. Had he played five more overs, he would have taken India to a much better position from where winning would have been easy.
Middle-order collapse costs India
India needed 135 runs in the last 12 overs with nine wickets in hand. Kohli and Rohit were looking quite comfortable at the crease. However, Sam Curran started picking up wickets for fun in a match-winning spell and soon, India lost six wickets for just 69 runs. They couldn’t bounce back from the point.
Joe Root completes three fifties in three games
Joe Root was rightfully named Player of the Series. He played remarkably well in all three games. He registered scores of 76*, 99*, and 74* across the three games. Root finished as the leading run-scorer in the series. On Sunday, he played an exemplary knock which didn’t allow India to bounce back in the contest after they picked up Duckett’s wicket.
ENG vs IND: Who Said What?
Shubman Gill, India Captain
[On assessing the performance] I think we were right in the game up until the 45th over. We gave too many runs in the last three overs. Gave around 60 runs, I think. That’s where the game went a little bit too far ahead from us. [On being optimistic about the run chase] Yes, definitely, we thought if we had wickets in hand after the 40 overs, we’d be in the game. But at the same time, we didn’t want to be too much behind in the game. So I think after the powerplay, we started to accumulate runs on the board, get the run rate around six, six and a half. If we kept playing around six, six and a half, and then in the last 10, get 100, 110, you never know. [On the positives India can take from the series] Yeah, I mean, almost everyone got runs in the matches. I think in this match particularly, we didn’t bowl well, especially in the powerplay. I think we bowled too many off deliveries in the powerplay. And then the way they capitalised, both the openers after the powerplay, was just tremendous. They never really gave us a chance to come back in the game. And then in the death overs, I think they got, like I said, too far ahead from us. But many positives for us in the series, almost everyone getting runs and taking wickets. [On Rohit and Kohli’s contributions to Indian cricket] I mean, they have done really well over the years in different parts of the world. And very, very pleased with how, Rohit Bhai batted today, especially getting 140. And I think the wicket got a little bit slow in the end. It wasn’t easy to hit those runs. But I think the way he batted was really a treat to watch.
Harry Brook, England Captain
[On England’s series victory over the world’s No. 1 ODI side] Extremely proud. I thought we fought hard. We communicated well like we did in the T20s and, yeah, we’ve managed to scrape away with a series win against the world number one. [On England’s batting performance] We’ve spoken about it a lot, to be honest. We want a set template. I think the way that Beth and Ducky started the innings was phenomenal. To be none down after 20-30 overs and not look like taking a risk throughout that period was an outstanding partnership. And then Rooty just doing what Root does and cracking on. And then the way that Jos finished the innings as well was awesome to watch. And, yeah, it was just a very, very good all-round batting performance. [On his captaincy and Jacob Bethell’s decisive spell] Well, I went off for an over, and I went and chatted to Baz. Comes back to the communication, to be honest. It’s been outstanding throughout this series and the T20s. And he said, “Why don’t you have a crack with Beth?” And he ended up bowling seven or eight overs straight through. So, yeah, that turned out to be a very vital part in the game. But I think everybody stuck to it really well. We fought and scraped away as well as we could. And, yeah, it was tough at times, but we got the job done.
Jacob Bethell, Player of the Match
[On his all-round performance and England’s series-clinching win] Yeah, definitely. These games are exciting. Going into today, levelling the series, wanting to win it. So, yeah, it’s great to put my hand up in that situation. [On opening the batting alongside Duckett] Yeah, I’m enjoying it. I’ve got a lot to learn, but I really enjoy batting with Ben. I’ve done it a bit in a different format, but we enjoy batting together, we complement each other well. So, yeah, I think we’ve seen what we can do today. [On his bowling role] Yeah, I think we saw that, Rash is obviously the best leg-spinner in the world, but the wicket was more conducive to when there was a bit more pace behind the ball. So, that was kind of my style of bowling, and I think it worked quite well out there. [On Sir Garfield Sobers and making an all-round contribution in a match played in his memory] Yeah, definitely. Yeah, he’s a special man. I was fortunate to have him be part of my journey and help me on my way, which I can’t thank him enough for. And yeah, my family are in the crowd today and they’ll be watching over. But yeah it’s great to do it in a game that was kind of in memory of him. And yeah, he was a great player.
Joe Root, Player of the Series
[On England’s series win over the world’s No. 1 ODI side] I think when you’ve got an opportunity to beat the number one team in the world and bounce back from that first game in the manner that we have, that’s the most rewarding thing right now. For us to build off the back of Sri Lanka, where it was a brilliant series win there, to now win this series, it shows that progression and it shows that we’re going in the right direction and trending in a really positive way with the World Cup further down the line. So, lots of good signs, nice to contribute, but ultimately just great to see the guys developing, learning and as a team, gradually get better. [On England’s top order setting the platform] Yeah, and I thought the tempo that they played with on that surface was fantastic. A lot of risk-free cricket for a long period of time and it gave us a really good platform. We knew that we were going to be able to explode towards the back end and make the most of the latter stages of the innings with that platform. So, it was just great to be in that position and when you’ve got guys like Harry (Brook) and Jos (Buttler) coming in with seven, eight overs to go, you’re in a good position. [On England’s progress ahead of the World Cup] Yeah, you’ve always got to keep looking at how you can get better, but I look at the last two series, as I said, the first game we’ve not got it right, but very quickly we’ve adapted on both occasions in two very different sets of conditions and I think that’s a really, really positive sign for the group. So, it’s almost, can we get ahead of that now and can we start well when we come to play white-ball cricket again in a few months’ time, and Sri Lanka come over and keep that trend of developing, learning, getting better, growing that confidence and being in a really good place, series after series, ahead of what’s to come.
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