Ali Martin’s report:
That's a wrap.
For the time being. The international cricketing juggernaut trucks on a pace. India head to the Caribbean for more white ball stuff next week and South Africa lie in wait for England in just a few days time.
Jos Buttler and co barely have any time to lick their wounds before they go again, the Proteas will offer just as much of a threat as India in both departments. We’ll of course have you covered on the OBO.
That’s me done, thanks for your company. Time for me to wrap up and head back down the M1 with a toddler in tow. Wish me luck... Goodbye!
Winning captain, Rohit Sharma:
“I’m very pleased. We came here and wanted to achieve something as a group with the white-ball and we did. There are things we need to improve but I’m very pleased with the effort. We were here last time and we were beaten. It is not easy place to come and win games but the way we played this entire white-ball leg has been fantastic. We’ve wanted to do it for a long period of time, to achieve it was brilliant.
It was a good pitch today, we knew it won’t be easy if we lost wickets early. It happened, but the positive is that these guys haven’t batted a long period in the middle overs and we got to see Rishabh and Hardik - they were both clinical - at no point did we feel they were panicking. They played great cricketing shots.”
Jos Buttler is polite and courteous in defeat but his eyes give away his disappointment, he’ll be bristling at that defeat: “I thought were were short on runs. We needed a good start with the ball. We created chances but two guys took the game away from us, that’s where we lost the game.”
He suggest England have been light with their batting in recent matches: “All summer, in T20s and ODIs we haven’t batted our best. We just need to bat longer.”
Athers asks Buttler about about Reece Topley and why he didn’t bowl more than seven overs...
“Reece’s been brilliant. He got his opportunity and we’re delighted for him to do well. We were trying to search for ways to get wickets. It’s been a tough schedule too so Reece is probably creaking a bit. We need to manage our players.
On missing the stumping off Pant:
“When you give players a chance they will hurt you. Hardik too, we gave him a half chance down at fine leg. (Athers asks him about being a wicket-keeper captain) I’ve found it fine to be honest... I missed a chance today but don’t think it is anything to do with my captaincy.”
Hardik Pandya pips Reece Topley to Player of the Series: “White ball cricket is something very close to me, I cherish my white-ball game. We all know England are such a good team. For us it was important to check ourselves out with our plans and the World Cup ahead. It was an ideal chance for us to step up and show what we have.
On Rishabh Pant: “We know his talent. Today he played the situation. Our partnership changed the game and the way he finished the game was special.”
England had India 38-3 and 78-4 and will wonder how they let India off the hook but India did indeed wriggle free. Pant and Hardik re-built before cutting loose and Pant ultimately finished the game in blistering style.
Unsurprisingly Pant is named Player of the Match, he is humble, shy almost as he talks to Mike Atherton:
“Hopefully I will remember my first ODI century for the rest of my life. But when I was in there, I was just focusing on one ball at a time. When a team is under pressure and you bat like that, that’s what you aspire to do. I enjoy playing in England and will do whatever I can do to keep enjoying my cricket. The more cricket you play, the more experience you get.”
Updated
INDIA WIN BY FIVE WICKETS!
And take the series 2-1.
Pant reverse sweeps Joe Root’s first ball for four, removes his helmet and gives a thumbs up! Job done. Quite astonishing hitting there at the end to finish off the game and a world class knock by Rishabh Pant.
A special innings from Pant.
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) July 17, 2022
Congratulations to India on winning the series 👏
Scorecard/clips: https://t.co/2efir2v7RD
🏴 #ENGvIND 🇮🇳 pic.twitter.com/eaallO99XW
Updated
42nd over: India 257-5 (Pant 121, Jadeja 7)
WOWZERS! After bringing up his maiden ODI ton Pant goes into hyperdrive and nails FIVE FOURS in a row! A flat batted crunch down the ground, a swivel pull, a lap scoop, an extra cover smote and a lofted punch through mid-on. David Willey has one ball left to bowl... a yorker is dug out and Pant trots a single to keep strike. A bruising over for Willey and England. Just three needed to win for India...
41st over: India 236-5 (Pant 100, Jadeja 7) Overton replaces Ali. Pant pulls for a single and moves to 97. Jadeja gloves one to leg to bring Pant back on strike... CLOSE! A mis-timed pull just loops over the fielder at mid-wicket but loop it does and lands safe. 99 to Rishabh - AND THERE”S THE CENTURY! A tickle to leg brings up a fantastic ton! Well batted Rishabh Pant!
40th over: India 231-5 (Pant 96, Jadeja 6) Maybe not even twenty minutes... Willey is called upon and a length ball is met by an outrageous flick for SIX by Pant! He made that look so simple. Just 29 needed from 60 balls. Pant is on 95 and one blow away from a memorable ton.
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39th over: India 221-5 (Pant 88, Jadeja 5) Moeen Ali continues. Four singles but he can’t get out of the over without further damage - Pant powerfully sweeping for four! Twenty more minutes of Pant batting and it’ll be game over.
38th over: India 213-5 (Pant 82, Jadeja 3) Pant is still chancing his arm, skipping down the track to Carse but not connecting, nevertheless five runs are smeared form the over. The camera zooms in on Pant having a quiet word, taking a few deep ones and telling himself to calm down. He has the match and series in his hands here.
37th over: India 208-5 (Pant 78, Jadeja 2) Moeen Ali replaces Overton and turns the pressure cooker up a notch by bowling a tight over, just a couple of singles off it.
36th over: India 206-5 (Pant 77, Jadeja 1) Ravi Jadeja is the new batter, India have quite a waggly tail after this pair. Carse fizzes one past a back foot fence from Jaddu and suddenly the match takes on a different complexion. India need 54 off 84 balls but a couple of wickets will leave the tail with plenty to do. Pant is the key man, obvs.
Updated
WICKET! Pandya ct Stokes b Carse 71 (India 205-5)
A breakthrough! But is it too late for England. India pick up 18 runs in four balls - Hardik pulling and driving Carse for consecutive boundaries before cue-ending a short ball to a diving Ben Stokes at mid-wicket.
A wonderful catch! 🤲
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) July 17, 2022
Scorecard/clips: https://t.co/2efir2v7RD
🏴 #ENGvIND 🇮🇳 @benstokes38 pic.twitter.com/y8aIjexf3Q
Updated
35th over: India 197-4 (Pant 77, Pandya 63) Hardik drives on the up handsomely to pick up three off Overton after the resumption. That brings Pant on strike... he flays Overton for four with a brutal cut shot before dancing down and smearing him over mid-on for SIX! This could be over very quickly from here. Runs coming in a torrent for India.
34th over: India 183-4 (Pant 66, Pandya 60) Four runs off Carse and it is time for a drink. England need to have a chat about how to get back into this game (err, wickets, at least two!)
India need 77 from 96 balls to take the series.
33rd over: India 179-4 (Pant 65, Pandya 57) Overton replaces Stokes who went for 14 off his two overs. Pant is ticking and he lays into two short balls from Overton- back to back pull shots find the fence! Buttler looks a bit blank here, the match and series slipping away. I wonder if that missed stumping is swirling round his mind?
32nd over: India 169-4 (Pant 55, Pandya 57) Brutal from Pant and Hardik! Pant goes in-to-out and gets four over extra-cover before Hardik marmalises a drive off Livingstone. England look flat here. Buttler needs to find something to get his side back into this contest.
31st over: India 159-4 (Pant 50, Pandya 52) Stokes continues. He keeps it tight for five balls but the pressure is released off the last as Pant bunts a length ball back over the bowler’s head for four. Stokes kicks the turf in frustration. Pant goes to his FIFTY off 71 balls. These two have dragged India back into this match.
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30th over: India 152-4 (Pant 46, Pandya 50) Livingstone starts well and bowls a tight line targeting the stumps. Four singles worked off the over and nearly a run out off the last ball! Pant calls Hardik through for a single but is ignored, Rishabh ends up doing a little jig in the middle of the pitch before scurrying for his ground. Pandya brings up an excellent FIFTY off 43 balls.
29th over: India 148-4 (Pant 43, Pandya 48) Ben Stokes is summoned and his first ball is stiff and short, Pant climbs into it and brutalises it on the pull to the mid-wicket fence. Stokes sharpens up but India still pick up three singles to make it seven off the over. Buttler is calling for Liam Livingstone to come on and bowl his liquorice allsorts.
28th over: India 141-4 (Pant 37, Pandya 47) Four singles off Moeen Ali. India are content to pick off the singles against the spinner and then look to cash in against the pace bowlers. England desperately need a wicket to break this partnership, if they don’t then India will canter home with ease.
27th over: India 137-4 (Pant 35, Pandya 45) Hardik moves through the gears and gets under Topley’s skin. He stands up tall and punches through the covers for a well-timed four and then unleashes a free flowing blade on a length ball that flies back past the bowler for four more!
26th over: India 126-4 (Pant 35, Pandya 36) Moeen tightens things up, just a single off his latest.
25th over: India 125-4 (Pant 32, Pandya 29) We’ve reached the halfway stage and it all feels a bit tense. India have got back into the game after those early wickets pegged them back. They take nine runs off the returning Topley, Hardik punching through long on and the two men calling well to scamper and scurry. India have prised England’s hands off the trophy and it is game on.
24th over: India 116-4 (Pant 32, Pandya 29) Hardik crunches a full ball from Moeen through the covers for four. Mo drags his length back and is worked for a single. Pant, who has been starved of the strike a bit, can only pat back three dots to finish the over.
23rd over: India 111-4 (Pant 32, Pandya 24) Overton bowls a cutter that narrowly misses the edge of Hardik’s blade. He’s bowling tidily here and gives away just three runs. Moeen is coming back into the attack.
22nd over: India 108-4 (Pant 31, Pandya 22) Pandya snaps the wrists on a cover drive to notch four more. These two batters have settled now and have found their touch. Pant drops to his knees and tries to sweep/scoop Carse but fails to connect.
Updated
21st over: India 101-4 (Pant 31, Pandya 16) More runs - Pant plays a purrrfect on drive off COverton that whistles to the fence. Lovely.
India need 159 off 174 balls. England need to restrict them and/or take six wickets.
20th over: India 95-4 (Pant 26, Pandya 15) Carse goes short to Pandya and the batter wins the battle. Hardik swivels on a half-tracker and skims it away for a one bounce four, Carse tries again but the ball just sits up and begs to be hit for four, Hardik duly obliges. 11 runs off the over.
19th over: India 84-4 (Pant 24, Pandya 6) Overton continues and he keeps it tight, just a single and a leg-bye off the over. My daughter toddle-waddles over to distract me and is fobbed off with some raisins. OBO 1 - Toddler 0.
18th over: India 82-4 (Pant 24, Pandya 5) Nasser Hussain wonders loudly on comms whether England will go short at Pandya and give him a taste of his own medicine. Carse switches to the Brian Statham End and does indeed explore the middle of the pitch. Once a captain always a captain. Three runs nudged from the over.
17th over: India 79-4 (Pant 23, Pandya 3) Hardik Pandya is the new man, he did some damage with the ball and will now need to do even more with the willow. He punches a back of a length ball away for three to get going. Pant then pulls Overton for four! England have a pinky and a couple of digits creeping around the series trophy.
WICKET! Yadav ct Buttler b Overton (India 72-4)
Steepling bounce from Overton and Yadav feathers a simple catch to Jos Buttler behind the sticks!
Updated
16th over: India 71-3 (Pant 18, Yadav 16) A flick has been switched in the brain of Rishabh Pant as he again swings like a crazed woodcutter at a flighted delivery from Moeen! He misses it by some distance but so does Jos Buttler behind the stumps and it is a missed stumping! The ball turned quite sharply and Buttler would have been unsighted and put off by Pant’s exaggerated heaving. Still, a chance to remove the danger man goes begging.
15th over: India 68-3 (Pant 17, Yadav 15) Pant has had enough of nudging and nurdling and nearly throws himseld off his feet as he lines up heave-ho against Overton - the ball catches the edge and flies away for four over where the slips would be. England are keeping a lid on India, Pant is trying to blow it off.
14th over: India 61-3 (Pant 11, Yadav 13) Ali bowls darts and the Indian batters are content to work for singles as they rebuild the innings. Five taken from the over. COverton is coming on to replace Carse.
13th over: India 56-3 (Pant 9, Yadav 11) Carse hammers a back of a length line, Pant plays a brutal cut shot that he seems certain is going for four but as he stands and admires it Craig Overton pulls off a Gordon Banks style save on the boundary rope and the batters only end up scampering a single. It’s the sort of thing you’d get a ticking off for in junior cricket.
12th over: India 52-3 (Pant 8, Yadav 8) Moeen Ali comes on for a twirl and it all goes a bit binary - 1,1,1,1,1,1. Six off the over. Robo-Boogie.
11th over: India 46-3 (Pant 5, Yadav 5) Pant has been kept quiet by tight bowling and fielding, Carse starts tidily with just three runs eked from his first over.
Here’s the Kohli dismissal for you to feast your eyes on:
On 🔥 🙌
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) July 17, 2022
Scorecard/clips: https://t.co/2efir2v7RD
🏴 #ENGvIND 🇮🇳 pic.twitter.com/KDQRAhCDSt
M’colleague Ali Martin sends over some roobish news RE England Test tours of the Caribbean:
Rubbish news for England supporters and Cricket West Indies - minimum five-year wait for the next Test tour to the Caribbean. Nothing in the period 2023-27 https://t.co/dTXAJHfhwF
— Ali Martin (@Cricket_Ali) July 17, 2022
10th over: India 43-3 (Pant 3, Yadav 4) Willey does get some swing and he keeps it full, zoning in on the pads. Yadav can’t get him away and there’s just a single from the over. The England players buzz about between the overs. Brydon Carse is coming on for a spell.
9th over: India 42-3 (Pant 2, Yadav 4) Suryakumar Yadav is the new batter and this match could hinge on the partnership between this pair. A back of a length ball outside off is crunched away by Yadav. Topley has 3-15 off his set of five, his dreamy summer continues.
Kohli ct Buttler b Topley 17 (India 38-3)
A tiny tickle and Topley has Kohli! Not a lot Virat did wrong there, he played the line and the ball just zipped and took the edge. Huge wicket, he was looking in good touch but has to go. England are cock-a-hoop!
Updated
8th over: India 38-2 (Kohli 17, Pant 2) Kohli walks across his stumps bringing groans from bowler and fielders, he doesn’t miss though and whips one away uppishly through mid-wicket for four.
7th over: India 33-2 (Kohli 12, Pant 2) Topley is impressive once again, just two runs coming off him as Pant struggles to penetrate the outfield.
6th over: India 31-1 (Kohli 11, Pant 1) The wicket of Sharma seems to have given Kohli a shot of adrenalin - he slaps Willey away through cover for a boundary then charges him and flicks a full ball fine for another boundary. Rishabh Pant is the new man.
England off to a flier... here’s me dreaming of a rout and an early finish. Not that I’m not absolutely committed to the OBO of course. It is hot though and Nigel’s email has me daydreaming of the clink of ice in a glass.
Updated
WICKET! Sharma ct Root b Topley 17 (India 21-2)
BIG KAHUNA! Topley has another, angling one across Sharma that he pokes at with no foot movement and the ball flies to Root at slip.
5th over: India 21-1 (Kohli 2, Pant 0)
Updated
4th over: India 14-1 (Sharma 13, Kohli 1) Willey pocketed Kohli in the last game with a zippy delivery that lifted outside off. Virat is watchful and gets off the mark with a nurdle off his legs.
Nigel Smith emails in and he’s feeeeeling good, despite the oppressive heat.
“Life can’t get better! Im sitting by a swimming pool sipping a gin and tonic (not too much gin in these scary heat ridden times) and reading the OBO.”
3rd over: India 14-1 (Sharma 12, Kohli 0) Virat is the new man, how he would love to leave these shores with a match and series winning knock to his name. Topley keeps him tied down to begin with.
WICKET! Dhawan ct Roy b Topley 1 (India 13-1)
Caught at short point! Good fielding position set by Buttler and Dhawan pokes one in the air that just carries to Jason Roy. Reece Topley in the wickets again!
Updated
2nd over: India 13-0 (Sharma 12, Dhawan 1) David Willey from t’other end and he’s bowling full to try and encourage any swing... there doesn’t seem to be any as Sharma leans on a full ball and it traces away through the covers for four. Back of a length Willey goes and Sharma punches this away for four more with delicious timing. He looks in ominous touch.
1st over: India 4-0 (Sharma 4, Dhawan 0) Topley hurries a couple onto Rohit and extracts some steepling bounce. The Indian captain has the last laugh though as a full ball is clipped majestically off his pads for four. Purr.
Here come the players. Sharma and Shikhar take guard and the be’mulletted Reece Topley has the ball. PLAY!
Thanks Tanya, time for a well earned slurp of something cold. Jim here to take you through India’s chase.
I’m just down the road from Manchester in the lovely, but very muggy Peak District. My ma and pa are on childcare duties as I tap away by an open window.
Do England have enough? Will Virat Kohli come to the party to seal a series win? Will I be interrupted by an unruly toddler? I guess we’ll find out over the next few hours. Get in touch in the normal ways if you can summon the energy to type!
An up-and-down innings - humming along nicely as Moeen and Buttler rebuilt - but stop-start otherwise. The OT wicket doesn’t seem to be as easy as its reputation suggests - but who knows till India get out there. Another great bowling performance by Hardik Pandya, nice by Chahal towards the back end, some sloppy outfielding - but Jadeja lit the place up with his catching.
India will be batting as the day’s heat picks up. Play will restart at 3.12. Thanks for reading - Jim Wallace will guide you through the chase. Bye!
45.5 overs: England 259 all out (Carse 3): A curate’s egg of an over - the first ball went for six as Overton charged - and the ball splattered through Siraj’s hands at long off. Disgraced Siraj is swapped for Kohli - who dutifully catches Overton two balls later. Then Chahal lets fly a wide for ages, before coming back with a gorgeous googly.
WICKET! Topley b Chahal 0 (England all out 259)
And England don’t bat the full 50 yet again! Topley plays an immaculate defensive shot, but misses the ball and the googly does the rest.
Updated
WICKET! Craig Overton c Kohli b Chahal 32 (England 257-9)
Coverton carves Chahal up and over and Virat Kohli does the business just in front of The Point
Updated
45th over: England 251-8( COverton 26, Carse 2) Someone walks into the living room after a trip to the gym and the sock smell is intense. Must be fresh in those Old Trafford dressing rooms. And Jadeja rattles through an over with only two from it.
44th over: England 249-8( COverton 25, Carse 1) Spin brings results with six overs left, Suryakumar clutching on with both hands. What can the big bowlers do as the Mexican wave ripples through the party stand.
“Do you think batters play such a huge amount of T20 these days they cant mentally adjust to 50 over cricket? asks Peter Norman. “At Lords and again today, players are going at it as if there was only 15 balls left, not 15 overs.”
I think the mental shift must be difficult - it even is as a spectator, you find yourself thinking “get a move on”, forgetting they really do have time to play themselves in during a ODI.
WICKET! Willey c Suryakumar b Chahal 18 (England 247-8)
Willey comes dancing down, but doesn’t quite biff with enough venom and Suryakumar is waiting at long off!
Updated
43rd over: England 244-7 ( Willey 17, COverton 22) A handful of singles, then another wide off Krishna which Overton watches pass safely by. Rohit gives a Paddington stare. The last ball is a slower ball which goes right through Virat Kohli in the covers to the boundary
Abhijato Sensarma! It’s been ages.
“Good evening to you from India! It’s been a great series so far, and Pandya’s street-smart display with the white ball - once again - is setting up the stage for a repeat of the previous match. Rohit Sharma must have been displeased with himself after becoming the first to be dismissed during India’s umpteenth ODI collapse against a par total in recent times. Perhaps, today’s the best chance for him to make amends and lead from the front?”
I agree, Hardik Pandya has been outstanding.
42nd over: England 235-7 ( Willey 12, COverton 19) India wrapping up runs here and giving them to England - Siraj’s bouncer flies up and away, over Overton’s head, over Pant’s and down to the rope. Five wides.
41st over: England 226-7 ( Willey 11, COverton 16) A full toss, tummy high, from Krishna, and Coverton bludgeons the following free hit for four. Brilliant spectator catch almost matched by the brilliance of Willey’s shot, middled over midwicket for SIX!
40th over: England 214-7 ( Willey 5, COverton 11) Siraj to put the wind up the tail, but they successfully scrump six off it.
“Tanya!” John Starbuck - welcome - only the second email of a lazy Sunday morning. “It looks as if, at this rate, England won’t even manage to bat out their overs, let alone approach 300 or so. Too many rushes of blood to the brain? Still, India might get the jitters too.”
It’s been a funny old series this one - quite out of character for both teams.
39th over: England 208-7 ( Willey 2, COverton 8) Some dodgy fielding gifts England a couple of runs, and C Overton picks up a couple off the glove.
38th over: England 202-7 ( Willey 2, COverton 2) Chahal whizzes through his over with India very behind the run rate.
37th over: England 199-7 ( Willey 1, COverton 0) Magnificent by Hardik - who kept his cool despite being hammered just short of the skip first ball. Livingstone couldn’t resist a ball that wasn’t quite as short as he though and Jadeja did the rest, then a stunning catch by Jadeja to get rid of the England captain for an excellent half century - England’s first of the series.
WICKET! Buttler c Jadeja b Hardik 60 (England 199-7)
Awesome catch by Jadeja! Sprinting from square leg towards the ball, losing his cap, losing his sunglasses, as he gathers on the run, rolls over, and ends up on one knee, arms outstretched - bring on the bouquets!
Updated
WICKET! Livingstone c Jadeja b Hardik 27 (England 198-6)
Hardik has the last laugh! Livingstone, two balls after smashing Hardik into the building site, tries again but it hasn’t quite got the legs and Jadeja takes a triffic catch on the rope, which nearly knocks him off his feet.
Updated
36th over: England 192-5 ( Buttler 60, Livingstone 21) Chahal survives, smart bowling, conceding only two.
35th over: England 190-5 ( Buttler 59, Livingstone 20) A smartly run three from a Buttler cover drive off Hardik. Hardik then sends down a bouncer -and Livingstone flies at it as if he’s trying to win the family swing-ball contest - but misses. He ignores a bouncer, then smashes another short one THROUGH the fence - making a cartoon hole - and into the building site! Hardik gets the last laugh, as a short one cracks Livvy on the grill.
34th over: England 181-5 ( Buttler 56, Livingstone 14) Quite sleepy Sunday cricket this, everyone waiting for the big hurrah. They gently milk Chahal but no big shots.
33rd over: England 175-5 ( Buttler 52, Livingstone 13) A bouncer and a yorker, then Buttler leans back and ramps a short one down to third man for a single. And there’s the money shot - Livingstone drives Krishna down the ground.
Only one of Buttler’s ODI fifties has taken longer than this - in a match at OT v Australia, which England won.
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32nd over: England 170-5 ( Buttler 51, Livingstone 9) Buttler sends four through extra cover for four, and a single brings fifty, which he celebrates with a modest bat raise to his home fans. My shadow suddenly peers over the computer screen - the sun is on its way out. Jadeja appeals very enthusiastically for an lbw against Livingstone, which interests no-one else.
31st over: England 163-5 ( Buttler 45, Livingstone 8) Those who read pitches well, think this isn’t as easy to get off the square as it looked - which would be supported by England’s performance thus far. Just a single from Krishna.
30th over: England 162-5 ( Buttler 44, Livingstone 8) Jadeja rattles through an over, enough singles to keep England happy, these two have the power to accelerate in a blink of time.
29th over: England 157-5 ( Buttler 41, Livingstone 6) Not a scene you normally see - Liam Livingstone in rebuilding mode. Just a single to Buttler from the first ball, then Livingstone plays out the next five, including a very well-directed bouncer from Shami.
28th over: England 156-5 ( Buttler 40, Livingstone 6) Rohit’s bowling change works again! That’s Jadeja’s first wicket of the English summer - a great cameo by Moeen but he’ll be disappointed not to go on after doing the hard work. Jadeja greets Livingstone with a no ball, and Livingstone wipes the free hit to the rope.
WICKET! Moeen c Pant b Jadeja 34 (England 149-5)
Jadeja’s second ball! Moeen gets down one knee to pull, edges/gloves through to Pant, who catches the salmon with squirted gloves at knee height! And they take DRINKS!
Updated
27th over: England 149-4 ( Buttler 40, Ali 34) The party stand is rammed, but luckily the clouds haven’t burnt away yet so the heat is manageable. Shami, luxurious beard, hastens in, but this time England can’t make the rope.
26th over: England 147-4 ( Buttler 39, Ali 33) Two sixes off Chahal’s over! Buttler’s a running hustle, Moeen down on one knee, which might have been grabbed had the fielder been loitering on the rope.
25th over: England 131-4 ( Buttler 32, Ali 24) Neither side, they point out on TMS, has batted fifty overs yet in this ODI series. And that is what Buttler is aiming for with this rebuilding. Time for the bustling Shami - a leg bye and a couple of singles.
Updated
24th over: England 128-4 ( Buttler 31, Ali 23) Chance for India to breath, with just three off Chahal.
23rd over: England 125-4 ( Buttler 30, Ali 21) Moeen’s first boundary of the innings comes with a four waved elegantly through backward point from a sun lounger. He pulls out of a pull in the face of another tasty Siraj bouncer; before unfurling a cover drive for four and then the laziest, most Sunday morning, pick up and swivel for SIX.
22nd over: England 107-4 ( Buttler 29, Ali 5) Chahal tosses one up, it’s full, and Buttler smashes him over long-on for SIX. He didn’t quite nail it - but it travelled anyway - is that the foot on the accelerator?
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21st over: England 97-4 ( Buttler 19, Ali 5) This time Buttler nails the pull, watching ball onto bat and sending it cracking to the rope. A wide follows, about which Pant, who is in a heavy-duty necklace and florescent sunglasses, has something to say. Moeen is tempted by by one that fizzes across him, then Siraj cracks Moeen on what looks like the forearm with a waspish bouncer.
This is the third ODI in a row in which England have failed to pass 100 in the first 20 overs.
Updated
20th over: England 91-4 ( Buttler 14, Ali 5) After that elongated over, Chahal rattles through six balls, some lacadasical fielding off his own bowling gifting England a single. No hint of fireworks, but five runs from it.
19th over: England 86-4 ( Buttler 11, Ali 3) Rohit calls for Siraj and he cranks down a short one and cracks Butter on the head as he attempts to pull. Buttler immediately pulls off his helmet and rubs the left side of the head near his temple - he definitely felt that - 85mph too. Three balls later, he hits him again, he’s too slow on the pull, and takes his eye off the ball and gets knocked on the head. Clever, nasty, bouncers.
18th over: England 83-4 ( Buttler 10, Ali 3) Chahal, a slip of a man, sends down the game’s first over of spin, his hair top heavy, poking up like a cockerel’s comb. England are watchful - Ali drives but there’s no real power, Buttler just picks of a single from the last ball.
17th over: England 82-4 ( Buttler 10, Ali 2) I think this is the slowest I’ve seen England bat in the whole Bazball era! But who would doubt these two at the crease with all their IPL etc experience. India are giving them nothing to work with. The run-rate is down to 4.82.
Updated
16th over: England 80-4 ( Buttler 9, Ali 1) Hardik, both forearms covered in pink sleeves, a flannel tucked into the back waistband of his trousers. It’s a smooth approach and well oiled action. Moeen Ali goes for the pull but is done by the pace - or lack of it - and is temporarily perplexed. Another excellent maiden.
Some batters got rather a nasty surprise when they turned up for cricket this weekend:
Woody gets FIVE on his return for @ashingtoncc_ 🚀 #ForTheNorth pic.twitter.com/rBkkVTff4X
— Durham Cricket (@DurhamCricket) July 16, 2022
15th over: England 80-4 ( Buttler 9, Ali 1) A cover drive to wrap up in lace and present at a wedding off Krishna’s first ball, but Buttler comes down to earth with the third, which he chips awkwardly just short of mid-off, who dives but can’t reach it.
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14th over: England 74-4 ( Buttler 4, Ali 0) Hardik’s second wicket maiden of the innings! Stokes’ unquenchable desire to come dancing down quashed by clever bowling. Moeen Ali chewing gum strolls casually to the crease. This will be a pretty partnership if it gets going.
WICKET! Stokes c and b Pandya 27 (England 74-4)
Pandya runs down in his follow through and collects off his own bowling. Stokes comes down the pitch but is surprised by short one at chin high and fends an edge straight up.
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13th over: England 74-3 (Stokes 27, Buttler 4) Five runs off Krishna, but no big shots - England watchful. Krishna testing on a good length.
12th over: England 69-3 (Stokes 26, Buttler 1) Softly, softly, catchee monkey. Who will break first in this game of patience? Buttler and Stokes can only pick one each off Hardik.
“Is this how this works now?” types Stephen Cryan. “An emotional rollercoaster with more twists and turns than a twisty turny thing. Frankly, I’m excited.”
You should be. This smells like a cracker already!
11th over: England 67-3 (Stokes 25, Buttler 0) India’s change bowlers building the pressure - just one run off Krishna’s second over.
Maybe it's too early to judge, @tjaldred, but Old Trafford looks like the ugliest modernisation of a sports venue anywhere in the world. I hope the revenue from the gigs is worth the vandalism.
— Gary Naylor (@garynaylor999) July 17, 2022
I’m very fond of Old Trafford, it’s a fantastic place to watch international cricket and big games when the stands are full. An amazing atmosphere. But no-one could claim the old girl was pretty and, like all the Test grounds, can be soulless for Championship games. My big bugbear is that there is no greenery at all - no trees, no little patch of grass, nothing to break up the concrete.
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10th over: England 66-3 (Stokes 24, Buttler 0) In comes Hardik, very expressive, mixing up a few glares and a hand on hip stance. Four dot balls and immediately the breakthrough. A slip comes in for Buttler, who dabs his first ball away. A wicket maiden and the breakthrough India needed.
WICKET! Roy c Pant b Hardik 41 (England 66-3)
Roy shapes to pull but leading edge scrapes the top of the moon and Pant takes the catch. A disconsolate Roy looks up to the sky and growls off the pitch.
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9th over: England 66-2 (Roy 41, Stokes 24) A change of bowling - Krishna replacing the expensive Shami. He pings them in on a length, and Roy pick up for four -without being in total control. And that’s the fifty partnership off 39 balls.
8th over: England 59-2 (Roy 35, Stokes 23) A last over for Siraj? A short ball sits up invitingly and Roy pulls it easily away for four. The crowd are still waking up despite the big shots, a Sunday morning slow start..
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7th over: England 49-2 (Roy 26, Stokes 22) Shami out of sorts, Stokes on the attack. First, a pull that would knock all the coconuts out of the tree. Second a straight drive right back past Shami’s bootlaces. Then a hacked bottom edge.
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6th over: England 38-2 (Roy 24, Stokes 13) Siraj starts with a wide, but keeps it close until the final ball which Roy steps back and chops past point for four.
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5th over: England 32-2 (Roy 20, Stokes 12) Roy starts the over by licking his lips at a short ball from Shami and superbly pulling him for four. A tasty bit of fielding by Prasidh Krishna saves a boundary but the runs continue to flow despite the early loss of Root and Bairstow.
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4th over: England 24-2 (Roy 13, Stokes 11) Siraj finding some swing. Stokes has a careless/free stroll out of the crease and bangs over mid off. A much better timed shot for four follows. And a flick for four over the hands of Chahal at midwicket.
3rd over: England 14-2 (Roy 13, Stokes) Roy still looking all sorts of out of form, throwing his bat at a length ball and nearly chopping on. A big lbw appeal from Shami and another attempted expansive Roy drive. This innings has the feel of someone trying to hit himself into form.
2nd over: England 12-2 (Roy 12, Bairstow 0) How the vibe changes in the space of one over! Fantastic bowling by Siraj, his face covered in a light coating of suncream. Bairstow’s red ball magic temporarily deserting him in the white ball, and Root done by an absolute beauty.
WICKET! Root c Rohit b Siraj 0 (England 12-2)
A beauty nurdles off the pitch, squares Root up and Rohit collects the outside edge!
Updated
WICKET! Bairstow c sub (Iyer) b Siraj 0 (England 12-1)
A leading edge plops to mid-off!
1st over: England 12-0 (Roy 12, Bairstow 0) Roy starts in full flow, powering Shami through the off side for four. The second goes for four as well, as Shami drifts legside and Roy shovels to deep-square leg. The vuvuzelas cry. And that’s the best of the lot! A clip of a leg stump half volley, like a rower nudging weed from his oar. Finally, Shami beats the outside edge with a wobbler.
The players are out - here we go!
While the ground fills up at Old Trafford, Ian Ward, Eoin Morgan and Kumar Sangakkara chew the fat. Do England have enough pace for Australian pitches in the WC asks Ward? Pace without skill and control can lose you games replies Sangakkara. Morgan praises England’s fielding and bowling at Lord’s - it helped to create a “cauldron feeling.”
The commentators are surprised by India’s decision to bowl first on a belting pitch - but it is is humid out there and India have made the white ball swing this summer so that could be behind Rohit’s thinking.
Teams
India (Bumrah, out with a back spasm, is replaced by Siraj): Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan, Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant , Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj, Yuzvendra Chahal, Prasidh Krishna.
England (unchanged): Jason Roy, Jonny Bairstow, Joe Root, Ben Stokes, Jos Buttler, Liam Livingsone, Moeen Ali, Craig Overton, David Willey, Brydon Carse, Reece Topley.
India win the toss and will bowl!
“It’s a good batting track,” says Rohit Sharma, “And we don’t think it is going to change.” Jos Buttler said that he would have batted first - so both captains happy.
Lancashire fans still reeling from defeat last night in the Blast Final, and Lanky’s loss in the mascot race, can be cheered by the return of Jos Buttler to his home ground.
“Congratulations Alfred, you are the champion!!” 🏆
— Gloucestershire Cricket🏏 (@Gloscricket) July 17, 2022
ICYMI, Alfred the Gorilla smashed the mascot race at #FinalsDay yesterday 🤩#GoGlos 💛🖤pic.twitter.com/UjFZQpO14i
Preamble
Good morning! The heat is as fierce as promised today in Manchester, though a slight haze has brought relief to the swifts suddenly swirling the local streets, as England and India meet for the final ODI. This is the decider, after Jos Buttler’s team suddenly found their mojo at Lord’s.
The last time these two teams met at Old Trafford was for the Test that never was, when events were called off at the last minute, spectators already trickling into the ground, souvenir sellers outside. No chance of anyone pulling out today: the match is a sell-out and both teams will find full-throated support.
The main talking point for India, is the lack of form of Virat Kohli - who was sent a personal message of support from Babar Azam earlier this week. England? After a chaotic few white-ball days, they just want the win.
This too shall pass. Stay strong. #ViratKohli pic.twitter.com/ozr7BFFgXt
— Babar Azam (@babarazam258) July 14, 2022
