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28 March 2024

Morgan stars as England beat India in T20 thriller

Published
By Cricket Correspondent and Agencies

England captain Eoin Morgan laid the platform for a thrilling three-run win over India in the lone Twenty20 international at Edgbaston on Sunday.

Morgan top-scored with a dashing 71 in England's 180 for seven after he won the toss.

Nevertheless, India - in the final match of their tour of England - were cruising to victory while Virat Kohli (66) was at the crease.

But when he was out India lost their way and they needed 17 off the last over, bowled by Chris Woakes, to win.

But, importantly, India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni, one of the world's most dynamic limited overs batsmen, was facing and he promptly launched the first ball of the over over square-leg for six.

The next ball saw India complete a risky two as Dhoni retained the strike.

Dhoni failed to score off the third ball but mishit the fourth off paceman Woakes for a boundary over long off.

India now needed five to win off two balls. Dhoni then edged Woakes to square leg but refused a single that would have put Ambati Rayudu on strike.

That left him needing a six off the last ball to win the match or four to send the game into a super over.

But no bounbary came as England held on for victory.

Former Ireland left-hander Morgan had managed just 198 runs in his last 10 one-day international innings.

But the number five showed his class in a 31-ball knock which included three fours and seven sixes.

Alex Hales made 40 and all-rounder Ravi Bopara 21 not out off nine balls as England scored 67 in the last four overs, with India's 'death bowling' - an area Dhoni has said they must improve if they are to retain their 50-over World Cup title in Australia and New Zealand early next year - again proving a problem.

India paceman Mohammed Shami led the tourists' attack with three for 38 in his maximum four overs.

Meanwhile Ajinkya Rahane held four catches, including a superb grab to dismiss opener Hales.

Jason Roy, given an England debut after topping this season's domestic T20 scoring charts with 677 runs for Surrey, fell for eight when he drove Shami to Rahane at extra-cover.

And 26 for one became 27 for two when Moeen Ali fell for a duck by chipping Mohit Sharma to Rahane.

Rahane also ended Hales's 25 ball-knock.

Hales hit a huge skyer off left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja and Rahane, running in and across from the long-on boundary, held a brilliant diving catch when it seemed the ball would fall safe.

Morgan, however, launched Karn Sharma over long-on and midwicket for two sixes.

He also drove Mohit Sharma for two huge sixes off successive balls at the end of the 19th over before he was well-caught in the deep by Rahane off Shami.

After opener Ajinkya Rahane fell early in India's run-chase, left-hander Shikhar Dhawan (33) and Kohli put on 79 for the second wicket.

Kohli struck Birmingham-born off-spinner Ali over 'cow corner' for six. before he holed out off fast bowler Steven Finn, having faced 41 balls, including nine fours.

It was the talented batsman's lone fifty in all international formats this tour after he struggled in both England's 3-1 Test series win and the subsequent one-day campaign, which India won by the same margin.

His exit left India 131 for three in the 15th over and England were back in the game.

INDIA INNINGS

England held their nerve in the death overs to restrict India to 177-5 after making 180-7 in a thriller at Edgbaston on Sunday.

Needing a boundary off the last ball to tie the scores or a six to win, Dhoni only managed a single as England win by three wickets. Ind 177-5 in 20 overs.

India need five from two balls after Dhoni smashes Woakes for a boundary over mid-off and then turns down another single.

Dhoni slams the first ball from Woakes over the ropes, scrambles back for a couple and then turns down a single.

Dhoni slams a low full toss from Gurney for a boundary but England need 17 from six. Ind 164-5 in 19 overs.

Finn bowls a good over despite conceding a boundary after Jadeja sliced to third man for a boundary. Ind 155-5 in 18 overs.

Jadeja is run out after being sent back after he comes back for a second. Ind 152-5 in 17.4 overs.

Ravindra Jadeja run out 7 (4b 1x4 0x6)

India need 35 from the last three overs. Ind 146-4 in 17 overs.

Gurney strikes yorking Raina to keep alive England's hopes. Ind 145-4 in 16.5 overs.

Suresh Raina b Gurney 25 (20b 1x4 1x6)

Tredwell bowls a good final over conceding only singles. Ind 141-3 in 16 overs.

India need 46 off the last five overs with Dhoni joining Raina in the middle. Ind 135-3 in 15 overs.

Hales takes a superb catch as Kohli tries to pull a short ball from Finn. Ind 131-3 in 14.2 overs.

Virat Kohli c Hales b Finn 66 (41b 9x4 1x6)

India are on a canter with Kohli and Raina picking up boundaries off Ali. Ind 130-2 in 14 overs.

Kohli gets a couple of boundaries off Woakes after completing his half century with a couple. Ind 104-2 in 13 overs.

Raina gives Tredwell the charge lofting him for a six to bring up the 100 of the innings. Ind 104-2 in 12 overs.

Woakes bowls a tidy second over. Ind 94-2 in 11 overs.

Woakes strikes as Dhawan swings and misses to be castled. Ind 89-2 in 10.1 overs.

Shikhar Dhawan b Woakes 33 (28b 2x4 2x6)

Kohli dances down the track and lofts Tredwell for a boundary as India are on course at the halfway stage. Ind 89-1 in 10 overs.

Kohli is showing ominous form virtually flicking Ali for another six. Ind 81-1 in 9 overs.

Tredwell manages to stop the flow of boundaries in his first over. Ind 71-1 in 8 overs.

Bopara goes for 14 in his first over with Kohli and Dhawan finding the boundary at will as India motor along. Ind 67-1 in 7 overs.

India have nosed ahead of England at the end of the Powerplay overs with Dhawan on song pulling Finn for a boundary and hoisting another over the ropes. Ind 53-1 in 6 overs.

Dhawan finds his range by swinging Gurney for a six over square leg. Ind 40-1 in 5 overs.

Kohli gets going hitting three consecutive boundaries off Woakes on either side of the wicket. Ind 30-1 in 4 overs.

Kohli swats Gurney to midwicket for a boundary. Ind 18-1 in 3 overs.

Rahane sweeps the first ball from Moeen for a six over square leg but the bowler has the last laugh bowling him round his legs next ball. Ind 10-1 in 1.2 overs.

Ajinkya Rahane b Ali 8 (4b 0x4 1x6)

Finn bowls a good opening over giving away just three runs.

ENGLAND INNINGS

England plundered 81 off the last five over with Morgan (71) leading the charge.

Hales hit a breezy 40 before England were shackled by the spinners before Morgan made a timely return to form smacking seven sixes and three boundaries in his 31-ball 71.

Shami finished with three for 38 while Ashwin went for 37 in his four overs.

Woakes is run out off the last ball but Shami goes for 15 in the final over with Bopara hammering two boundaries and six off consecutive balls as England finish on 180-7.

Chris Woakes run out 0 (0b 0x4 0x6)

Morgan falls to another superb catch in the boundary with Rahane claiming his fourth. Eng 166-6 in 19.2 overs.

Eoin Morgan c Rahane b Mohammed Shami 71 (31b 3x4 7x6)

Mohit goes for 21 in the penultimate over as Morgan hammers a boundary and two sixes off consecutive balls. Eng 165-5 in 19 overs.

Morgan is on song hammering Shami for a six and boundary to complete his half century. Eng 144-5 in 18 overs.

Buttler hammers a low full toss straight to midwicket. Eng 130-5 in 17 overs.

Jos Buttler c Rayudu b Mohammed Shami 10 (15b 0x4 0x6)

Karn goes for 17 in his final over as Morgan blasts two sixes. Eng 130-4 in 17 overs.

Morgan punches Jadeja down the ground for a boundary and a six. Eng 113-4 in 16 overs.

Another superb catch this time from Rayudu accounts for Root. Eng 85-4 in 11.4 overs.

Joe Root c Rayudu b KV Sharma 26 (29b 2x4 0x6)

Morgan opens his account by sweeping Ashwin for a six over midwicket. Eng 84-3 in 11 overs.

Hales smashes Jadeja for a six but perishes next ball with Rahane taking a skier. Eng 75-3 in 9.5 overs.

Alex Hales c Rahane b Jadeja 40 (25b 3x4 3x6)

Hales and Root are shackled by the spin of Jadeja and Ashwin. Eng 64-2 in 9 overs.

Hales finds the gap on the off by cracking Karn through backward point. Eng 53-2 in 7 overs.

Hales cuts Sharma through backward point for another boundary as they make 46-2 in 6 overs.

Root clips Shami to backward square leg for a boundary and gets a life after Ashwin and Karn fail to hold onto a skier. Eng 38-2 in 5 overs.

Root whips Sharma through midwicket for his first boundary. Eng 31-2 in 4 overs.

Moeen Ali chips Mohit straight to extra cover. Eng 27-2 in 3.1 overs.

Moeen Ali c Rahane b Mohit Sharma 0 (2b 0x4 0x6)

Shami strikes with Roy driving straight to extra cover fielder. Eng 26-1 in 2.5 overs.

Jason Roy c Rahane b Mohammed Shami 8 (10b 1x4 0x6)

Hales hammers Mohit straight down the ground for his second six. Eng 24-0 in 2 overs.

Ashwin goes for 17 in the opening over with Hales cutting to third man for a boundary and sweeping the next ball for a six.

India start with spinner Ashwin to debutant Roy who reverse sweeps the second ball to the boundary.

England have won the toss and will bat first in the only T20 international against India.

Karna Sharma (India) and Jason Roy (England) are the two debutants.

PLAYING XI

England: Jason Roy, Alex Hales, Moeen Ali, Joe Root, Eoin Morgan (capt), Ravi Bopara, Jos Buttler, Chris Woakes, James Tredwell, Steven Finn, Harry Gurney

India: Shikhar Dhawan, Ajinkya Rahane, Virat Kohli, Ambati Rayudu, Suresh Raina, MS Dhoni (capt), Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, Karn Sharma, Mohit Sharma, Mohammad Shami

PREVIEW

Eoin Morgan defended the Indian Premier League (IPL) as he prepared to captain England in their lone Twenty20 international against India at Edgbaston on Sunday.

England great Ian Botham used his MCC Cowdrey Lecture at Lord's earlier this week to call for the domestic Indian Twenty20 franchise competition to be shut down, saying it was "too powerful" and that it "compounded" the problem of corruption within world cricket.

But Middlesex batsman Morgan, one of the few current England internationals with IPL experience, insisted playing in the tournament had been hugely beneficial in his development as a cricketer.

"Certainly my experience of the IPL, I thought wonders of it," the 27-year-old former Ireland international told a news conference at Edgbaston on Saturday.

"I spent four seasons playing with Jacques Kallis, one with Rahul Dravid, Brendon McCullum, Brett Lee, guys I would never have had an opportunity to play with and learn from solely playing at Middlesex, so I'm very grateful for that," explained Morgan,

"The experience of watching the very best go about their business is huge.

"I think it made me a more skilful player both in Twenty20 and 50-over cricket," added Morgan, who represented both the Kolkata Knight Riders and the Royal Challengers Bangalore in the IPL.

"Being thrown-in in those situations, playing in front of huge crowds, is awesome and a tough experience but one that holds you in good stead down the line."

With Alastair Cook heavily criticised for his tactics as England one-day captain by the likes of one of his predecessor Michael Vaughan, Morgan has been touted as an alternative skipper come next year's World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.

But left-handed middle-order shotmaker Morgan, even more than opener Cook, has struggled for runs lately, managing just 198 in his last 10 ODI innings.

"It's been extremely disappointing. I've worked incredibly hard this year on my all-round game and I have been light on runs," said Morgan."

But England will at least go into Sunday's match buoyed by their 41-run ODI victory at Headingley, with Joe Root making a hundred on his Yorkshire home ground.

Victory prevented a whitewash, although world champions India still won the series 3-1.

"It was a huge boost," said Morgan, Middlesex's one-day captain.

"But for us to stand up yesterday (Friday), and for Joe to put in the extremely skilful performance that he did, in difficult circumstances, was exceptional."

Morgan, who last led England in May during a nine-run Twenty20 defeat by Sri Lanka at The Oval and in a colossal 157-run ODI loss to the Islanders at Chester-le-Street, insisted captaincy did not hamper his batting.

And despite seeing Cook put through the wringer this season, Morgan, again deputising as England Twenty20 captain for the injured Stuart Broad, said he still retained his enthusiasm for leadership.

"I enjoy it, particularly the tactical side of it.

"Not being an all-rounder, fielding can become quite tedious and you try and improve anything you can, to have that extra bit of weight on your shoulders, to be thinking about the game two or three overs ahead then you normally would be I think is a good challenge and one I enjoy."

However, Morgan became the latest England player to insist Cook - who does not play T20 internationals - should captain the side in both their upcoming ODI tour of Sri Lanka and at the World Cup.

"I have a huge amount of respect for him, both as a player and as a captain, and again I look forward to him leading the side out come Sri Lanka and come the World Cup."