IND vs ENG: With a breathtaking century under his belt, captain Rohit Sharma helped India to a leading 2:0 against England in the ODI series. The second ODI at Cuttack was perfectly led and batted by Rohit and resulted in a thrilling 4-wicket victory for the Indian team. Vice-captain Shubman Gill has also aided significantly with his half-century to chase down 305 runs in that impressive win.
England Sets a Challenging Target in IND vs ENG ODI
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After winning the toss for the second consecutive time, England chose to bat first. The openers gave them a firm start with an 81-run partnership. Duckett, in particular, was aware of the gaps and played his cut shots aggressively. With Duckett dominating the initial overs, India struck first with debutant Varun Chakravarthy sending Phil Salt back into the dugout after he attempted a slog sweep shot.
But Duckett kept up his assault until that point when he was stumped by Ravindra Jadeja. England’s middle order was supported by a series of decent partnerships. Joe Root and Harry Brook went on to make an important fifty-run partnership, and then Root formed another solid partnership with Jos Buttler.
Yet within a short span, Buttler was gone, caught by Hardik Pandya in the third powerplay, leaving England in a precarious situation. Defying those odds, Liam Livingstone and Adil Rashid played some delightful shots in the last couple of overs and helped the course of England post a decent total of 304 runs.
A Dynamic Start to India’s Chase
Guided by their in-form captain Rohit Sharma, India got off to a flying start in chase of their target of 305. From the very first ball, the Mumbai batsman was in his element, playing shots that reminded one of his past glory days.
One witnessed some lofted off-drives, sweetly timed flicks, and a couple of sixes off the bowling attack. In almost no time, it was Rohit’s fifty, and the foundation was laid for an endearing innings in the making.
Along with him was Shubman Gill, also in excellent touch, having scored his fifty and helping his skipper in the chase. Apparently, a brilliant yorker dismissed him, bringing the curtains down on his promising innings.
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Following Gill, not long after that was Virat Kohli, the cause of his exit being somewhat unfortunate. A spinning delivery by Adil Rashid took the slightest edge of his bat and Kohli was caught behind with India having scored 135 for three.
Rohit Sharma’s Century and India’s Mid-Innings Struggles
Despite the dismissals, Rohit Sharma continued to look in sublime form. His strokeplay remained aggressive, and he reached his century, much to the delight of the Indian fans.
However, just after reaching the milestone, Rohit was dismissed in an unexpected manner, caught at midwicket on a loose delivery. Rohit’s knock of 119 runs off 90 balls was a crucial foundation for India’s chase, but his departure left India with more work to do.
Shreyas Iyer, continuing his good form, looked solid at the crease. However, his innings was cut short when he was run out, adding to the pressure. India’s chase took another hit when KL Rahul, who had been under scrutiny before the Champions Trophy, was dismissed cheaply, further complicating the situation. Hardik Pandya’s bat also remained silent, leaving India with just a few wickets remaining to get across the line.
Axar Patel and Jadeja’s Calm Finish
With India still requiring runs to win, Axar Patel and Ravindra Jadeja stepped up and showcased calm under pressure. Their steady partnership ensured that India maintained their composure in the chase. Both players kept their wickets intact while finding gaps to rotate the strike and score at a steady pace.
With their determined efforts, Axar (44*) and Jadeja (44*) guided India over the line, securing a 4-wicket victory and an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series..
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