- England win the first T20I by seven wickets, with 11 balls to spare
- Moeen Ali’s two for 21 restricts India to total of 147
- Eoin Morgan leads chase with 51 while Root finishes the job with an unbeaten 46
Related: England beat India by seven wickets in the first T20 international
Seems about right and a welcome change to just tossing the award to the man with the most runs. On a pitch that a few bowlers struggled on at various times, Moeen’s two for 21 from four overs was exceptional.
That’s all from me. Join us on Sunday for the 2nd ODI. BYE!
Root in India this winter: 124, 4, 53, 25, 15, 78, 21, 77, 88, 6, 78, 54, 46* pic.twitter.com/jbpPuJUDya
19th over: England 148-3 (Root 46, Stokes 2) Just one delivery needed for Root to pick of the winning runs with a single to long on. The visitors take a 1-0 lead in the series. They totally blew India away, who will probably make a few changes before the next T20 in Nagpur on Sunday.
18th over: England 147-3 (Root 45, Stokes 2) With 16 required from 18 before the over got underway, there was a chance for a bit of tension. However, a leg side wide from Nehra, a brace of twos and then a couple of leg side heaves get it down one from the remaining 12 deliveries.
17th over: England 132-3 (Root 32, Stokes 2) A bit of comic relief before the game is done and dusted. Joe Root, bowled off a no ball, faces a free hit. Bumrah bowls a yorker which Root decides to try and ramp... straight into middle stump.
From bad to worse for India. Root loses his leg stump attempting an ungainly hack to leg. But the umpires check the front foot and Bumrah, who overstepped a few times in the ODI series, has none of his left boot behind the line. Free hit...
16th over: England 129-3 (Root 31, Stokes 1) Another huge shot to the leg side and Eoin Morgan has his half century from 37 balls. He’s gone with his 38th, but it has been a well thought-out innings. His eighth in international T20s. He departs with the job all but done.
1,500 - Eoin Morgan has become the first man to reach 1,500 T20I runs for @englandcricket (12th overall). Leader. pic.twitter.com/xKjXARK9jt
Eoin Morgan goes six-fifty-and-out. A bit of air from Rasool entices Morgan into a slap shot over cover. However, he doesn’t get enough on the ball and skews it straight that he’d like and to Suresh Raina at long off.
15th over: England 120-2 (Root 29, Morgan 45) Outstanding work by Suresh Raina robs Eoin Morgan of another six to midwicket. He leaps high on the edge to take a catch that takes him over the sponge. But just before he hits the deck, he’s able to throw the ball back into play, saving four.
These Indian players need to go and play in the IPL to catch up with England and how the game has moved on @Vitu_E.
14th over: England 114-2 (Root 27, Morgan 41) Very easy now. Rasool’s taken for a couple before Morgan, again, pounces on length to short-arm the offie over wide mid on for six to bring up 1,500 T20i runs. Runs required below balls available.
13th over: England 103-2 (Root 24, Morgan 33) Glorious from Root, down the pitch, elbow up, bat to ball, four to the cover floor. “Wiggle room is the perfect phrase,” says Andrew Benton. “I can see those two jiving about just like a bee does when it gets back to the hive and does a wiggly dance to tell the other bees where the new flowers are - they know they’ve found a way there!! Oh yes, a victory for England?! Can it be true? I hold my breath...” Even they couldn’t muck up their lines from here, Andrew. I mean, they could. And they have in the past. But surely not... 45 from 42 needed.
12th over: England 94-2 (Root 19, Morgan 31) The fifty partnership comes up from 48 balls in that over and with it, effectively, the game is England’s. The strike of note came three balls in when Morgan got hold of a misdirected delivery from Raina which sat up and implored punishment. Into the stands it went.
11th over: England 82-2 (Root 15, Morgan 23) Seam with Hardik Pandya, with some cutters served up for good measure. Morgan is undone by one, which he runs past but Dhoni is back and there’s no chance of a stumping or run out. Still, six runs from the over tick things along nicely.
10th over: England 76-2 (Root 13, Morgan 21) There’s the over. Just as required run rate and that of the innings matched up, Root and Morgan pounce. Root goes first, using his feet to hit through extra cover, beating the man stationed out on the fence. Then Morgan drops to one knee and slaps the leggie over midwicket for six. 72 needed from 60...
9th over: England 64-2 (Root 8, Morgan 14) After being taken for 20 in his first over, Bumrah returns and concedes two. He’s pulled his length back – key on this pitch, as England showed – meaning Morgan and Root can’t push out at him.
8th over: England 62-2 (Root 7, Morgan 13) That partnership up top has given Mogan and Root a bit of wiggle room. Five singles come from the over and the required rate is just under one less than where England are right now.
7th over: England 57-2 (Root 5, Morgan 10) Well in from Morgan: Rasool darts a few in from around the wicket and Morgan gives himself room to hit through the line over the off side for four. Nine from it.
6th over: England 48-2 (Root 4, Morgan 2) Chahal follows up Rasool’s good work to see out the Power Play overs for the concession of just 48 runs. Two come from the over but it’s the turn that excites Dhoni. Morgan hangs back for most, which turn away from him. Virat might be tempted to get some overs out of Raina and Yuvraj if it continues like this...
5th over: England 46-2 (Root 3, Morgan 1) Parvez Rasool, an off spinner on T2o debut, comes into the attack and immediately ties Root down. A series of leg side whips find fielders before Root is forced squarer for a run.
4th over: England 43-2 (Root 1, Morgan 0) Second six and out of the match. Jason Roy slog sweeps leggie Yuzvendra Chahal into the stands and then into his stumps. He gets Billing to, who tries and fails to continue with the assault. Still, a solid platform has been set and a sizeable dent put into India’s total.
Now then... Billings comes down the inadvertently yorks himself, allowing the ball to continue on into his off stump.
Ah well, the fun comes to an end. Roy goes too hard a delivery held back and edges down into the base of his stumps.
3rd over: England 36-0 (Roy 13, Billings 22) Not wanting to be left out, Jason Roy puts Nehra into the stand down the ground for a belting six. New balls needed. God, these two are good to watch. Wolves in Boy Band clothing. That’s 12 from the over, all in all. India and Dhoni are rattled.
2nd over: England 24-0 (Billings 21, Roy 3) Two fours from Billings, neither timed particular well but with enough elevation to beat cover and mid on, respectively. Never mind – he makes amends for the plinks with an outrageous lap shot over fine leg for six! Incredible! When Bumrah brings it back, he pulls that away for four through square leg. Exceptional reading of length. What a player.
1st over: England 4-0 (Roy 3, Billings 1) Billings and Roy to open up – four from the first over, as Ashish Nehra begins work with the new ball. Of the times India have posted less than 150, they have won two, lost eight and tied one.
"Their bowling in the ODIs wasn't special, today it was special!"@NasserCricket impressed with England today https://t.co/4vNHrIAXJa
20th over: India 147-7 (Dhoni 36, Bumrah 0) A sacrificial two gets Dhoni on strike – though Rasool keeps his wicket after Root messes up the throw to the bowler’s end. Two fours follow: a larrup down the ground and a flay through point. The last three deliveries only bring two runs as Dhoni is unable to find the rope meaning England will chase 148 for the win.
Only 29 off the last four overs at Kanpur: great death bowling from Mills and Jordan#INDvENG
Rasool falls on his sword as Dhoni clouts one straight to the England captain. Rasool’s almost face to face with Dhoni, who stays put. The throw back is gentle, the bails are taken off and off Rasool goes. Dhoni to take the two deliveries left...
19th over: India 135-6 (Dhoni 24, Rasool 5) Mills finishes with 27 for one. India have been boundaryless in the last 22 balls. Brilliant stuff from England’s quicks.
18th over: India 128-6 (Dhoni 19, Rasool 3)
I'm over the moon about the current run rate and wickets, but I wonder how Adil Rashid feels? Specialist catcher, @Vitu_E? #INDvENG
17th over: India 122-6 (Dhoni 15, Rasool 2) Brakes applied by Mills, who confused Dhoni with a well-disguised slower ball before seeing off Pandya with some wide heat.
Sam Billings a more nonchalant catcher than Ian Bell? Huge call, but I think he might be.
A first international wicket for Tymal Mills! A short delivery, banged into the pitch, is upper cut high but not far... Billings, out on the off side fence, comes in and takes a simple catch.
16th over: India 117-5 (Dhoni 12, Pandya 9) Finally, Dhoni cuts loose, albeit in a refrained, orthodox, un-Dhoni-like manner. I mean, a cover drive, with no sign of wrists? Take the silences off, MS. Still, it’s a well-timed shot that beats the off side field and races away for his first boundary. Three wides and some leg work see 11 runs from the over. India will need similar from the remaining four overs to get a decent total. In the last two years, they have averaged a run rate of 10.09 between overs 16 and 20. That’s second to England’s 10.25.
Moeen's figures of 2-21 are his best in T20i cricket, surpassing his 2-22 v SA in Cape Town. #IndvEng
15th over: India 106-5 (Dhoni 7, Pandya 7) Another excellent over from Plunkett, after getting battered in his first two. Three from this one as Dhoni and Pandya are unable to get anything of worth. Plunkett owes Stokes for that: the allrounder putting in a great double stop at midwicket to cut off a boundary and then clean up after his own fielding threatens to send the ball onto the sponge.
14th over: India 103-5 (Dhoni 7, Pandya 4) Excellent spell from Moeen Ali, who finishes his four overs with figures of two for 21. It feels like Dhoni has been out there for a while but he has only faced seven balls. Pandya, who had decent cameos with the bat in the ODI series, joins MS.
Think I’ve found out why he hasn’t done as well on the international scene. He’s just played around a straight one.
13th over: India 98-4 (Dhoni 6, Pandey 3) Six and out from Raina. What a six it was, though. Manish Pandey, who has yet to really strike in T20is, despite an impressive domestic record – one century and 13 fifties – comes to the crease.
Brilliant from Stokes! A ball after he’s deposited for six over wide mid on, he catches Raina moving across to the off side and clatters his leg stump with a yorker. Raina looks baffled but he has to take that frown back to the changing room.
12th over: India 88-3 (Raina 28, Dhoni 5) Moeen Ali continues and Dhoni removes his helmet – something England players can’t do because of the ECB’s helmet regulations. Along with Raina huffing and puffing at the other end, this is a proper Chennai Super Kings reunion (god rest their souls). Still no sign of Adil Rashid with the ball, yet.
Sitting in Goa surrounded by Kohli fans and can see why but I am glad he has gone. @Vitu_E when will they open the 1st Kohli temple ?
11th over: India 82-3 (Raina 26, Dhoni 1) Credit to all involved in that wicket. Firstly Eoin Morgan for opting for Plunkett, despite the fact that his first two overs went for 22. Then to Plunkett for cramping Yuvraj for room and forcing him to mistime. And, finally, to Rashid: he had a high profile drop in the Test series when Kohli was missed went on to ton-up. No such error there. Raina gives some back at the end of the over, thumping Plunkett over extra cover for four.
Plunkett rushes Yuvraj, who tries to whip the ball around the corner but can only top edge high into the Kanpur sky. It comes down with snow on it and straight into the hands of Adil Rashid, who takes a brilliant diving catch to complete the dismissal.
10th over: India 75-2 (Raina 20, Yuvraj 12) A tidy over from Moeen is spoiled by a glorious strike down the ground from Yuvraj. He doesn’t use his feet much but he gets his front foot out and swings effortlessly through the line of the ball.
9th over: India 68-2 (Raina 19, Yuvraj 6) Stokes trying a different ball every delivery, it seems. Some full-paced deliveries make way for a slower ball bouncer which loops high (and wide) over Raina’s head. A sharp one to Yuvraj Singh nips away off the pitch and induces Yuvraj into a flirt. All is going well until Liam Plunkett misfields turning one into three. That then brings Raina back on strike who threads the final ball of the over between third man and point with a light dusting of a dab.
@Vitu_E I keep wondering why the fielder at square leg doesn't chase the ball. The umpires are wearing the same colors as England.
8th over: India 58-2 (Raina 14, Yuvraj 2) Never mind that ticking over nonsense I spouted in the previous entry – Kohli’s got to occupy himself with a crossword or some Mahjong for the next few overs. Instant success for Moeen Ali, who concedes just three as Yuvraj Singh gets his bearings before pushing one down the ground to open his account today. Nasser reckons between 170 and 180 is a good score here.
Kohli gone, Federer almost through ... the Drama Llama doesn't know where to look at the moment!
GONE! Kohli skips down to Moeen’s first ball and tries to whip him through midwicket. He’s unable to beat Morgan, though, stationed in the ring, who takes a fine catch tumbling to his right.
7th over: India 55-1 (Kohli 29, Raina 13) Fielders out, Ben Stokes in. That’s usually how Eoin Morgan has operated and he seems happy to do so today. For those up to scratch with the IPL, this is the time the likes of Raina and Kohli knock the ball about at around seven or eight an over and then start to clear that front leg and go for the big hits.
6th over: India 47-1 (Kohli 26, Raina 10) The Power Play comes to an end, not so much with a bang but a couple of loud noises. Raina picks up two fours with some ropey timing – one over point, the other down the ground. All square after six rounds?
5th over: India 36-0 (Kohli 24, Raina 1) Brilliant from CJ, who changed ends and used the skiddy nature of the pitch to get that bumper right in at throat height. Just three from the over, too. Another old favourite, Suresh Raina, comes to the crease. Ashish Nehra’s due to come in further down, too. What a Golden Girls reunion this is.
Jordan directs a near-perfect bumped at KL Rahul, who steps away and throws his hands at the ball to direct it tamely in the air to Adil Rashid, around the corner at short fine leg.
4th over: India 33-0 (Kohli 22, Rahul 8) Just the one for Chris Jordan as he’s replaced by Liam Plunkett and it’s an expensive substitution. Plunkett’s length and heft on the ball allows Kohli to mistime one through cover and then ping one over extra – both for fours. He does put a bit on Kohli with a cross-seam delivery that rears up and catches the glove, causing the India captain a bit of discomfort.
Why do I feel like, however deep we bat, we'll be chasing 200+ here @Vitu_E? Kohli seems to be impregnable, and our bowlers porous.
3rd over: India 22-0 (Kohli 12, Rahul 7) A better over from Mills, who comes around the wicket to target the body and cut down on width. Six off the over, nothing to the fence.
2nd over: India 16-0 (Kohli 10, Rahul 4) On paper, this is a very good over from Chris Jordan. Just four runs taken off the bat – a mistimed drive over the top of mid on – with a few play and misses, including a slower ball that finds a passage between Kohli’s bat and pad. But the first ball was a no ball and the third was sent down the leg side.
1st over: India 9-0 (Kohli 5, Rahul 4) No warm-up bout, it’s Mills v Kohli to get us underway. The first delivery is up there for pace – 90mph, pushing Kohli onto the back foot and defending to point. Two balls later, Mills is wider, shorter and Kohli slaps him off the toe through cover for four. A single to leg brings KL Rahul on strike who also gets off the mark with a boundary: his splayed over backward point with ease.
Sky are airing a pilot of their new show, “Tuk Tuk Confessions”, starringa ying-yang coupling of Nasser Hussain and Sam Billings. He’s a thoroughly impressive bloke, Billings. Talented multi-sportsman – they always are, aren’t they? Good at rackets – his cousin, Tom, is a ranked player (currently third in the world) – and also not too bad with the ball at his feet...
Skills @sambillings! pic.twitter.com/Et2d0CcSsg
Vish here bringing you the first of three T20 internationals between India and England. Bit of a novelty, this series: usually there’s only one T20 tagged onto the end of a long, drawn out series where even those that have parachuted in want to go home. The quality suffers as a result.
But hey, we’ve got three here and some of these players have only been in India for a fortnight, so this should be a hoot. Virat Kohli says he would have bowled first, too. There’s a rumour he’ll open with KL Rahul but that’s yet to be confirmed.
Vish will be here shortly. Meanwhile, read what Virat Kohli had to say about the prospect of facing Tymal Mills.
How to solve a problem like Virat Kohli has been a frequently posed question during England’s white-ball tour of India. On the eve of the first of three T20 internationals Kohli was asked how he might expect to cope with England’s latest gambit against the Indian top order, the left-arm pace of Tymal Mills, who is expected to take the new white ball at Green Park stadium in Kanpur on Thursday night.
The answer came with a wry, slightly incredulous smile. “Well, I have faced 90mph before,” Kohli pointed out. “I can maybe comment further on him after I’ve played him. But 90mph is not a problem at all. I have faced many 90mph bowlers before.” It was a fairly gentle pulling of rank from the world’s best T20 batsman.
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