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SPORTS MARCH 26, 2021 | The Indian Eye 48

englanD In InDIa

Credit to visitors? how India failed

to defend 337 on a batting track

KL Rahul hit a classy 108 off 114 balls, it was all about brutal power for Pant

as he hit a 40-ball 77 with seven hits out of the park

Our Bureau turion Bairstow and then picked

Pune stand-in skipper Jos Buttler for
a three-ball duck. But it didn’t
en Stokes’ swashbuckling make much difference to the
99 and in-form England chase. Dawid Malan and debu-
Bopener Jonny Bairstow’s tant Liam Livingstone stitched
112-ball 124 saw England regis- an unbeaten 50-run partnership
ter a six-wicket win over India in to take the side home. Living-
the second ODI here at the Ma- stone scored 27* while Malan
harashtra Cricket Association returned unbeaten on 16.
Stadium on Friday. Earlier, riding on the plat-
Chasing a mammoth target form set by centurion KL Rahul
of 337, the visitors cruised home and Rishabh Pant, India scored
with 39 balls to spare as they lev- 63 runs in the last five overs to
elled the three-match series 1-1. Ben Stokes plays a shot during the 2nd ODI between India and England at finish on 336/6 in the allotted 50
If the Indian batsmen stole the MCA Stadium in Pune on Friday. (ICC/ANI Photo) overs.
show in the afternoon, it was the While Rahul hit a classy 108
turn of the English batters under off 114 balls, it was all about
lights to showcase some quality brutal power for Pant as he hit
strokeplay. The decider will be a 40-ball 77 with seven hits out
played on Sunday. The founda- of the park. India was placed
tion of every successful chase comfortably at 210/3 after the
is a strong foundation and En- completion of 40 overs. But
gland had the best possible start the duo ensured that the hosts
as openers Jason Roy and Bair- hit overdrive mode and picked
stow scripted a hundred-plus 126 runs in the last 10 as the En-
partnership for the first wicket. gland bowlers had no clue on
The duo started the innings the length to bowl. If Rahul and
cautiously, but took charge after Pant set up the finish, Hardik
the initial spell from the Indian Pandya hit a 16-ball 35 to keep up
bowlers. The visitors looked to the tempo after their dismissal.
be in cruise mode before a piece India had a poor start as in-
of brilliance on the field from form Shikhar Dhawan got out
Rohit Sharma in the 17th over cheaply in the fourth over. Pacer
saw Roy get run out after hitting Reece Topley scalped Dhawan
a top-quality 55. (9) and provided an early break-
Stokes joined Bairstow in through to his side. Skipper Vi-
the middle and made his inten- rat Kohli joined Rohit Sharma
tions clear from the word go in the middle. The duo added
as he went hammer and tongs England's Jonny Bairstow plays a shot during the 2nd ODI between 28 off 29 balls before Sam Cur-
from the word go. The duo add- India and England at Pune on Friday. (ECB/ANI Photo) ran sent Rohit (25) back in the
ed 175 for the second wicket ninth over as the batsman hit
and that set the momentum for ded with 10 sixes. Wicket-keep- runs away from the target with one on his legs straight to short
the visitors. er Rishabh Pant caught Stokes eight wickets remaining. backward square.
Stokes missed out on a off Bhuvneshwar Kumar in the In the very next over, Rahul, promoted up in the
much-deserved ton as he got 36th over but it was too late for Prasidh Krishna picked two batting order, came in to bat at
out on 99 off 52 balls -- stud- India as England were only 52 wickets as he first got rid of cen- Continued on next page... >>

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