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28 March 2024

England knock out India to reach tri-series final after Taylor-made victory

Published
By Cricket Correspondent and Agencies

James Taylor revived England's wobbly chase to lead them to a three-wicket victory over India on Friday which secured a place in the tri-series final against Australia.

Taylor (82) added 125 runs with Josh Buttler (67) for the sixth wicket to help England overcome a top-order collapse and chase down a 201-run victory target with 19 balls to spare.

It was, however, their disciplined bowlers who had laid the victory platform, shooting out India for 200 in 48.1 overs in what was effectively a semi-final at the WACA.

The wicket was not easy to bat on, as was evident in the 43rd over when James Anderson hit Mahendra Singh Dhoni flush on the helmet and, five balls later, struck the India captain below the knee-roll almost from same area to trap him lbw.

Barely two weeks before they start their World Cup defence, India would still be worried as only Ajinkya Rahane (73) shone with the bat in yet another capitulation.

Put into bat, Rahane added 83 with opening partner Shikhar Dhawan (38) in 20 overs before the wheels fell off the Indian innings.

Chris Woakes sent back Dhawan to get the breakthrough but it was Moeen Ali's double strike - dismissing Virat Kohli and Suresh Raina - that broke the back of the Indian batting.

From 134 for three in 34 overs, India collapsed to 165 for nine in the next 10 overs. Even the 200-mark did not look a possibility until number 11 Mohammad Shami smacked 25 runs off 18 balls as India were dismissed in the 49th over.

England lost both openers early and looked in trouble as their first 66 runs cost them the top half of their batting order.

Taylor, beneficiary of a missed run-out chance, and Buttler, dropped by Raina in the slips on 21, arrested the slide and put the chase back on track with sensible batting.

Taylor and Buttler fell in quick succession to inject  excitement to the contest but England's victory never looked in any real doubt.

The final takes place in Perth on Sunday.

England entered the final to meet Australia after a three-wicket win over India. 

England lost seven wickets chasing a target of 201 to win.

James Taylor (82) and Jos Buttler (67) were the star performers. 

England innings

Another wicket for India but looks like it's too late. Eng 193-7 in 45.2 overs.

Jos Buttler c Rayudu b Mohammed Shami 67 (78b 7x4 0x6)

Something to celebrate for India as Binny takes a fine catch in the deep to end Taylor. Eng 191-6 in 43.2 overs.

James Taylor c Binny b Sharma 82 (163m 122b 4x4 0x6) 

Partnership reaches 125 as Butler is batting on 66 while Taylor on 82. England need another 10 to win. Eng 191-5 in 43 overs.

Buttler punches Binny through mid-on for a boundary as England hang in. Eng 77-5, 22 overs.

England are imploding and India scent victory with half the opposition back in the pavilion.

Binny has struck again as Bopara cuts him straight to point. Eng 66-5, 20 overs.

Ravi Bopara c Jadeja b Binny 4 (6b 0x4 0x6)

Taylor cuts Patel for a boundary. Eng 62-4, 19 overs.

England are collapsing in a heap as skipper Morgan departs as Binny strikes again. Eng 54-4, 18 overs.

Eoin Morgan c Dhawan b Binny 2 (13b 0x4 0x6)

England are wobbling with a soft dismissal as Root chips a return catch to Binny. Eng 44-3, 14 overs.

Joe Root c and b Binny 3 (2b 0x4 0x6)

Patel strikes as Ali steps out and attempts to loft him out of the ground only to be caught in the boundary. Eng 40-2, 12.1 overs.

Moeen Ali c Rayudu b Patel 17 (34b 1x4 0x6)

Spin introduced after the end of powerplay as Patel comes into the attack. Eng 35-1, 10 overs.

Ali finds the gap on the off with a square drive to the boundary off Shami. Eng 32-1, 9 overs.

Mohit strikes trapping Bell leg before with an awkward delivery that kept low. Eng 14-1, 3.5 overs.

Ian Bell lbw b Sharma 10 (13b 2x4 0x6)

Bell has punched Binny through the covers for another boundary. Eng 13-0, 3 overs.

Bell hits the first boundary of the scooping Binny through the covers. Eng 5-0, 1 over.

Binny opens the attack as Bell and Moeen Ali begin England's run chase.

India innings

India put into bat are restricted to 200 in 48.1 overs with Ajinkya Rahane top scoring with 73.


Shikhar Dhawan (43) returned to form during an opening partnership of 83.

Finn claimed three for 26 while Woakes, Broad and Ali snared two wickets apiece.

 


Woakes claims the final wicket as Shami is caught behind after an entertaining knock. Ind 200 all out, 48.1 overs.

 

Mohammed Shami c Buttler b Woakes 25 (18b 3x4 1x6)

The Indian tail is wagging with Shami smashing a six and a boundary off Woakes. Ind 190-9, 47 overs.

Bell takes another superb catch at Patel departs. Ind 165-9, 44.2 overs.

Akshar Patel c Bell b Finn 1 (5b 0x4 0x6)


India are falling apart with Finn holding a skier from Jadeja. Ind 164-8, 43.2 overs.

Ravindra Jadeja c Finn b Broad 5 (9b 0x4 0x6)

Dhoni was hit on the helmet by a bouncer by Anderson and a few balls later is trapped leg before by a delivery which kept low. Ind 164-7, 43 overs.

MS Dhoni lbw b Anderson 17 (32b 3x4 0x6)

Bell takes a brilliant catch at slip to account for Binny. Ind 152-6, 39.2 overs.

Stuart Binny c Bell b Finn 7 (12b 1x4 0x6)

Dhoni gets going square cutting Broad for his first boundary followed by another to third man. Ind 152-5, 39 overs.

Rahane is gone nicking Finn to be caught behind by Buttler. Ind 136-5, 35.3 overs.

 

Ajinkya Rahane c Buttler b Finn 73 (101b 3x4 1x6)

Broad strikes as Rayudu is beaten by the extra bounce to be caught behind. Ind 134-4, 34.1 overs.

Ambati Rayudu c Buttler b Broad 12 (17b 1x4 0x6)

Rayudu attacks Broad hammering back over his head for a boundary while Rahane hooks a bouncer to fine leg for a six. Ind 131-3, 33 overs.

Broad returns to the attack and is despatched to the midoff boundary by Rahane. Ind 116-3, 31 overs.

Raina does not last long giving Ali the charge and slashing to Woakes at backward point. Ind 107-3, 29.2 overs.

Suresh Raina c Woakes b Ali 1 (5b 0x4 0x6)

Ali strikes as Kohli steps out and attempts to hit him out of the ground but fails to clear Root at long off. Ind 103-2 in 27.1 overs.

Virat Kohli c Root b Ali 8 (19b 0x4 0x6)

Rahane completes his half century off 71 balls. Ind 95-1, 25 overs.

Woakes returns to the attack and strikes first ball as Dhawan edges one to be caught behind. Ind 83-1, 20.1 overs.

Shikhar Dhawan c Buttler b Woakes 38 (65b 4x4 0x6)

Rahane gets a boundary off a thick outside edge off Moeen. Ind 83-0, 20 overs.

Moeen Ali into the attack after the drinks interval as England introduce spin to break the partnership. Ind 69-0, 18 overs.

Finn has been driven through the covers for a boundary as Dhawan is growing in confidence. Ind 61-0, 15 overs.

Dhawan cracks Broad between point and third man for his second boundary. Ind 54-0, 14 overs.


Dhawan survives as an inside edge off Broad misses the stumps and runs away to the boundary. Ind 44-0, 12 overs.

Broad comes into the attack and Rahane gets his first boundary slapping him through the covers. Ind 34-0 in 10 overs.

Dhawan hits the first boundary of the boundary cutting Woakes to third man. Ind 18-0, 6 overs.

India are struggling with Anderson hurling down a maiden to Dhawan. ind 9-0, 5 overs.

Anderson opens proceedings against Rahane to get the match underway.


England have won the toss put India into the bat in the virtual semifinal clash of the Tri-series at the WACA in Perth on Friday.

Mohit Sharma comes in place of Ishant while England are unchanged.

Teams

England - IR Bell, MM Ali, JWA Taylor, JE Root, EJG Morgan, RS Bopara, JC Buttler, CR Woakes, SCJ Broad, JM Anderson, ST Finn

India - S Dhawan, AM Rahane, AT Rayudu, V Kohli, SK Raina, MS Dhoni, STR Binny, AR Patel, RA Jadeja, Mohammed Shami, MM Sharma

World Cup schedule

India and England clash on Friday in Perth with the winners taking their place in the tri series final against Australia in the shadow of the looming World Cup.

The hosts are enjoying extra time to prepare for Sunday's final at Perth's WACA ground while the tourists go at each other again.

England thrashed India by nine wickets in their last encounter and ran Australia close in their second meeting last week in Brisbane.

And that has put captain Eoin Morgan in confident mood ahead of the World Cup which England kick off against Australia in Melbourne on February 14.

Morgan says he fancies another crack at Australia before the big event.

"The opportunity to play Australia on Sunday is huge," he said Thursday.

Learning how to live with lengthy breaks before important matches could prove critical for the World Cup, which carries on till March 29, Morgan added.

"Having too much cricket on your mind can sometimes create an issue.

"The less guys have to think about it, the better.

"And the more we can get used to time off going into the World Cup, it would be really useful.

"I mean we'll have stages like this throughout the World Cup that we'll need to get ourselves ready for."

For India, hamstrung batsman Rohit Sharma, who hasn't played since scoring 138 against Australia at the MCG on Jan 18, will again be missing.

But Sharma, who trained in Perth on Thursday, could be fit for the final if India get through.

India are winless in the series so far, but skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni feels his team are slowly building after comprehensively losing the Test series to Australia.

Opening batsman Shikhar Dhawan has suffered a poor tour and is under pressure to hold his place for the World Cup after averaging just 17 across 11 innings in Test, one-day and warm-up matches.

But Dhoni is backing the 29-year-old to find some form on Friday.

"Form is something people don't really see - it's an abstract," Dhoni claimed.

"You can come into form and go out of form very quickly.

"You just have to spend that 10 to 12 minutes of quality time in the middle, and everything will fall into place.

"What's important for him will be to be himself, and bat to his strength."