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Key occasions
third over: India 24-0 (Rohit 19, Gill 4) Ecstasy from the group as Rohit drives a half volley from Saqib for six – so good as to be straight out of Sadler’s Wells. His 333rd six in ODIs – solely Shahid Afridi (351) lies forward. Gill then pulls 4, with minimal motion, and nods to himself in approval. Saqib knits his eyebrows and purls a dot to complete the over.
2nd over: India 13-0 (Rohit 12, Gill 0) Gus Atkinson on the different finish. Somebody has advised him to tuck his shirt in. Begins with a large, a scrambled seam then hits Rohit excessive on the thigh. After three dots, Rohit’s frustration will get the higher of him and he clunks Atkinson excessive for 4. Greater, higher, subsequent ball – six caressed legside off his ankles.
India innings – want 305 to win
1st over: India 1-0 (Rohit 1, Gill 0) Rohit waits for the stadium announcer to countdown; Saqib Mahmood smooths down his fringe. He runs in, pretty rhythmic strategy. Rohit reveals the bat face to the primary ball, swings on the second -which Saqib is fortunate to get away with because it wings away broad of the stumps. Only a single from the over.
As we watch for India to pad up, Tom Hamilton messages: “I believe we’re the one England followers at Cuttack right this moment, unbelievable ambiance! Worry we’re 50 or 60 quick right here…” You fortunate issues! It feels electrical, and that’s simply via the tv – please hold the OBO up to date.
Simply echoing Tim’s remark on Gill’s catching – that sprinting, diving effort to dismiss Brook was fantastic. Astonishing that he managed to carry on, he landed on that arduous floor with fairly a thump.
Thanks Tim for guiding England to a (probably) defendable complete. An honest effort – Duckett and Root offering the ballast, with fireworks from Rashid and Livingstone taking them previous 300.
(My swim was reluctant however I’ll grudgingly comply with really feel higher afterwards.)
England end with 304
That was an innings of two halves. For 38 overs England made serene progress, by their low requirements on Indian soil. Ben Duckett gave them a quick begin after which Joe Root introduced his typical contact of sophistication. Jos Buttler regarded in wonderful kind however when he was out for 34, England produced the collapse that’s at all times of their again pocket, shedding their final seven wickets for 85. Almost half of these runs got here from the bat of Liam Livingstone, who, with out being at his blistering finest, at the least made positive that they reached 300. For India, Ravi Jadeja was masterly with three for 35 and Shubman Gill took three catches, two of them excellent.
The bottom is small, which suggests 304 just isn’t sufficient. However the wicket is two-paced, which says the alternative. England have definitely given themselves an opportunity, however the Indians will know that one huge partnership ought to be sufficient to seal the collection.
That’s my cue to clock off. Thanks in your firm, correspondence and views on Barney Ronay’s prose. Tanya, refreshed by her swim, can be right here shortly.
WICKET! Wooden run out 0 (England 304 all out)
And one other! Rahul throws down the stumps on the striker’s finish, and that’s that.
WICKET! Livingstone run out 40 (England 304-9)
It’s one other run-out, as Livingstone’s full-length dive isn’t fairly sufficient to beat a strong throw from Shreyas Iyer.
England attain 300!
Livingstone, dealing with Shami, has a glance in his eye that claims he’s hitting this one straight. And he does, crouching in his crease and crunching a straight drive for 4 to convey up the 300. On this floor, that feels just like the least you want.
forty ninth over: England 297-8 (Livingstone 34, Wooden 0) Ah effectively, Mark Wooden is at all times enjoyable to look at. And England nonetheless managed ten off that over.
WICKET! Rashid run out 14 (England 297-8)
Oh no! A mixture-up going for a second run, a positive pick-up and throw from the unstoppable Jadeja, and Rash is gone. That was one of many nice cameos: 14 off 5 balls.
48.4 overs: England 296-7 (Livingstone 33, Rashid 14) Rashid has 14 off 5 balls with no dots. Livingstone has loads of dots, however when he hits it, it stays hit. He wallops one other six off Harshit, however then …
forty eighth over: England 287-7 (Livingstone 26, Rashid 13) Cometh the demise, cometh Adil. Going through Shami, he reveals Atkinson the way it’s achieved with three fours in a row – a smack over extra-cover, a whip to midwicket and a slash previous the duvet sweeper. Beautiful stuff.
WICKET! Atkinson c Kohli b Shami 3 (England 272-7)
Maybe Atkinson too feels that it’s Adil time. He falls to a heavy ball from Shami, which he can solely mis-time into the fingers of Kohli at deep mid-on.
forty seventh over: England 272-6 (Livingstone 25, Atkinson 3) Gus Atkinson could have a Check century however, in white-ball cricket, I’m undecided why he’s coming in forward of Adil Rashid, who’s so skilled and so adept at utilizing the tempo of the ball to squeeze just a few fours from the ultimate overs. Livingstone is struggling too – or was… he heaves the final ball of Harshit Rana’s over for six.
forty sixth over: England 260-6 (Livingstone 16, Atkinson 1) Jadeja finishes with 3-35, a quiet masterclass. And England, who had been 219-3, have now misplaced three extra wickets for less than 40 or so. Ah Mr Collapse, we’ve been anticipating you.
WICKET! Overton c Gill b Jadeja 6 (England 258-6)
One other skyer, one other positive catch from Shubman Gill. He may very well be Man of the Match for his fielding.
forty fourth over: England 256-5 (Livingstone 14, Overton 5) Varun steps up for his final over. Livingstone does his finest to get out, sweeping within the air with out a lot conviction, however he doesn’t succeed, so Varun finishes with 1-54.
“I believed Barney’s article was a gem,” says Paul Lakin. “The outline of cricket as ’basically a picnic that has acquired out of hand, monetised standing round’ was pure Ronay (although that gained’t cease me passing them off as my very own within the pub).” Ha. I’d go additional and say that the primary half of that – the picnic that has acquired out of hand – was pure genius.
forty third over: England 250-5 (Livingstone 11, Overton 1) So Jadeja strikes once more. What a cricketer he’s.
WICKET!! Root c Kohli b Jadeja 69 (England 248-5)
He;’s the one which they need they usually’ve acquired him! After receiving these items, Root affords one in return – a mis-timed chip that loops up and presents Kohli with the best of catches at deep mid-off.
forty second over: England 247-4 (Root 69, Livingstone 9) One other reward for Root: Varun tries a faster ball that finally ends up as a full toss. Root square-drives, will get a thick edge and picks up 4. The 300 is on.
forty first over: England 238-4 (Root 63, Livingstone 7) Hardik continues and offers Root a freebie, a fullish ball on leg stump that’s simply asking to be glanced for 4.
Right here’s Brian Withington. “Simply catching up,” he says, “and was amused to find that Tanya’s uncanny potential to provoke a wicket extends even earlier than she takes up the reins of the OBO. Elsewhere I see that Barney Ronay has now pegged the England arrange as a demise cult, and approvingly (however fairly selectively) references a Mike Brearley interview in 2023. Reflecting on the 2, I discovered the MB interview usually insightful and compassionate. Barney Ronay’s piece equally … typical.” Oof.
We are able to agree about Brearley, however I felt Barney’s column was fascinating, and extra nuanced than the headline would possibly recommend. Glad you’ve talked about it as a result of I forgot to hyperlink to it earlier.
fortieth over: England 230-4 (Root 56, Livingstone 6) Root, seeking to elevate England’s spirits, tries an un-Root-like stroke, chipping Shami over midwicket. He doesn’t time it however will get two, and England add just a few singles.
Right here’s Krish once more. “Answering your query, ‘Have you ever been studying Rob Smyth?’ Is there a sports activities lover who has not?” Ha. Rob is so proficient and so modest – I hope he reads that.
thirty ninth over: England 223-4 (Root 51, Livingstone 4) Buttler stepped away to leg to off-drive a slower ball from Hardik, however didn’t time it in addition to his different photographs and gave Gill, at mid-off, the possibility to swoop once more together with his swallow dive. The partnership between England’s two veterans was 51 off 9 overs. Simply earlier than the wicket, Root had reached fifty for the 56th time in one-day internationals. His celebration was perfunctory: he is aware of that one other fifty is required, and all of the extra so now.
Liam Livingstone is available in and will get straight right down to enterprise, chopping Hardik for 4.
WICKET!! Buttler c Gill b Hardik 34 (England 219-4)
One other nice catch from Shubman Gill!
thirty eighth over: England 216-3 (Root 49, Buttler 33) Rohit sees the seamers doing higher and decides to interchange Jadeja with Mohammed Shami, who has had a very good lengthy relaxation. England handle 9 off the over with out a boundary as Buttler, working exhausting, picks up two twos.
“England’s white ball batters,” says Gary Naylor, “appear to be intent on avoiding collapses fairly than driving on to unassailable leads. It could simply be my reminiscence enjoying methods, however underneath Eoin Morgan, I appear to recall much more tonning up (see Glenn Phillips for NZ yesterday for the influence). England gained’t win world tournaments with out centuries – who’s going to make them?”
It’s a very good query, although if you happen to had been making an attempt to sum up this tour in two phrases, “avoiding collapses” won’t be the primary ones that got here to thoughts.
thirty seventh over: England 207-3 (Root 48, Buttler 26) A very good over from Hardik Pandya, solely 4 from it.
And right here’s Krish Krishnamoorthy. “If there’s one factor that India has not learnt, it’s the best way to ease the yesterday’s superstars via a door marked Do One.” Krish, have you ever by any likelihood been studying Rob Smyth?
“It began with Kapil Dev clinging on, refusing to go, understanding he was previous his finest days, and the selectors who wouldn’t wield the machete. And it continues. Indian cricket, formidable and highly effective as it’s, can go to the following degree ONLY if Rohit and Virat go away. Their failures (constant of late) are papered over by wins delivered by the heroics of a Bumrah or a Pant. They’ve had their day and it’s time they went. Right here BCCI can be taught just a few methods from Cricket Australia and even England for that matter.” It’s a very good level, however the Aussies are ageing too, aren’t they? And doing fairly effectively.
thirty sixth over: England 205-3 (Root 45, Buttler 25) One other over from Jadeja, one other 5 singles.
thirty fifth over: England 200-3 (Root 45, Buttler 22) Hardik returns to search out Buttler in pretty contact. He will get the commentators purring with an off-drive, on the up, so effectively timed that it beats the dive from the person at long-off.
thirty fourth over: England 186-3 (Root 44, Buttler 14) Rana’s energetic third spell ends as Rohit goes again to Jadeja. 5 singles off his over.
And right here’s Simon McMahon. “I hope Tanya goes wild swimming in freezing chilly water, which appears to be a little bit of a factor as of late,” he says. “And could be very a lot consistent with the Bazball ethos. When you recover from the preliminary shock, very nice. Although not with out danger.”
Drinks: England have not collapsed!
thirty third over: England 186-3 (Root 42, Buttler 11) Varun reckons he’s acquired Root LBW and Rohit goes for a evaluate. It takes so lengthy that you just marvel if it has been referred to Stockley Park. After a number of hours, the third umpire spots that Root acquired a glove on the ball. He celebrates with a reverse sweep for 4 and one other for 2. And that’s drinks, with England – up to now – avoiding the cluster of wickets that’s at all times beckoning to them in India. Whether or not they have sufficient, I fairly doubt, however they’re giving it a very good go. They now want extra from these two previous fingers: ideally, 100 from Root and a fast fifty from Buttler.
thirty second over: England 180-3 (Root 36, Buttler 11) Within the temper or not, Buttler can’t deal with this snorter from Rana – quick, quick and seaming away. Rana has steam popping out of his ears and reveals it with a shy on the stumps that goes for 4 overthrows. Fairly an achievement to hit a 4 off your personal bowling. And deny your self a maiden.
thirty first over: England 176-3 (Root 36, Buttler 7) Buttler is within the temper, crunching Varun via the covers for 4. However there’s not a lot to return after him, with Bethell injured and Livingstone out of shape. It feels as if England might find yourself with 320 or 250.
thirtieth over: England 169-3 (Root 35, Buttler 1) Jos Buttler will get off the mark immediately with a fluent push for a single, again previous the bowler. However that could be a huge wicket for India. Brook thought he was secure, calling for 2, however Gill did brilliantly. And so did Rohit, exhibiting religion in Harshit Rana after Brook had hit him for these two fours in his earlier over.
WICKET!! Brook c Gill b Rana 31 (England 168-3)
This can be a fantastic catch. Brook hits a slower ball into the deep blue sky. Gill has to run again, and dive, and maintain on, and to the group’s delight he makes all of it look simple.
twenty ninth over: England 165-2 (Root 33, Brook 30) It’s nonetheless spin at one finish with Axar, who’s pulled for 4 by Root. England have managed to get into fourth gear, however on a floor with such quick boundaries, they absolutely want to search out fifth.
twenty eighth over: England 158-2 (Root 27, Brook 29) Brook’s struggles on this tour have had loads to do with having to begin his innings towards spin. (He may be higher as an opener in India.) Now Rohit goes again to seam, giving Harshit Rana a 3rd spell, and Brook celebrates with a beautiful 4 via the covers, not more than a well-timed push. Rana responds effectively – dot, dot, dot – and Brook, feeling the necessity for one more 4, goes down the observe to blast the final ball over further cowl.
The primary of these fours introduced up the fifty partnership off 69 balls. Sedate however efficient.
twenty seventh over: England 150-2 (Root 27, Brook 21) Axar continues and after a few singles, Root goes deep within the crease and performs a whipped pull for 4. He has achieved fairly effectively with 27 off 36 balls, whereas Brook, even with that fabulous six, has solely 21 off 42.
Observe to youthful readers: that is what one-day cricket was like from 1971 to 1996.
twenty sixth over: England 143-2 (Root 22, Brook 20) When Rohit sees the replay, he throws his fingers up in frustration, wanting like Ruben Amorim. In the meantime Jadeja continues and the batters do higher, discovering 5 singles.
Within the crowd, males with hoses spray the group with mild jets of water to chill them down. “How good is that?” says Ravi Shastri. “Let’s hope the liquid popping out is sweet and recent.”
twenty fifth over: England 137-2 (Root 18, Brook 18) Root, dealing with Axar, reveals Brook the way it’s achieved by enjoying a late drive for 2, then hanging again to flick the following ball for a single. However nonetheless, solely three off the over. And there was an LBW shout in there which could have introduced a wicket on evaluate had Rohit gone for it – Root was down the observe, which fairly obscured the truth that the ball was hitting leg stump.
twenty fourth over: England 135-2 (Root 16, Brook 18) Jadeja, bowling to Brook, delivers a maiden! And it solely takes 75 seconds. The person is a batter’s nightmare, and a live-blogger’s too.