T20I: Kohli, Kishan lead India to victory over England

 

The second T20 series between India and England has ended in a thrilling draw after India leveled the series with a comfortable seven-wicket win.

Thanks to the captain, Virat Kohli and Ishan Kishan, who took the pressure off him by scoring 56 on his debut. The duo starred for the hosts when they chased down England’s 164-6 in 17.5 overs to record the win.

This is really a good feat for Kishan to smash a fifty on his debut. The icing on the cake came when the country needed it most against England in the second T20 international.

England had cruised to a win in the series opener. This made India go back to the drawing board. They then produced a dominant display in Ahmedabad, chasing down 165 with 2.1 overs to spare.

Kohli, who scored 73 runs from 49 balls, sealed the win with a six. He is now the first batsman to record 3,000 runs in T20I cricket.

England’s Jason Roy was the visitor’s top scorer (46 from 35) again, similarly to his performance in the first game. The batsman showed his mettle early on with tough batting before getting easier in the second innings. After his exit, no one from the English camp could replicate his performance as they struggled to get going before ending their inning 164-6.

England was put in to bat but suffered an early blow when Jos Buttler was dismissed lbw from Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s first ball. The bowler who got a wicket and conceded 29 shuffled across Butler’s stumps.

Roy tried his best, though, with his first run being a six. After then, the England batsman rarely connects cleanly on a tricky surface before being ousted.

Yuzvendra Chahal had trapped Dawid Malan (24) lbw after a good review from India before Roy lost the battle against Sundar (2-28). The offspinner claimed his second wicket later.

Debutant Suryakumar Yadav also caught Jonny Bairstow (20).

Eoin Morgan recorded 4 sixes to help England maintain some momentum, but India’s bowlers won’t let that happen as they exploited the conditions superbly, bowling into the pitch and taking pace off.

Morgan (28) was later undone by Shardul Thakur (2-28), who also dismissed Ben Stokes (24).

Sam Curran got a four with the last ball and then opened the bowling.

He dismissed KL Rahul (0) after Buttler helped with the catch behind.

The perfect start almost got better for England before the end of the powerplay. But Kohli batted fearlessly to put the pressure back on England’s bowlers. His boundaries were able to bring the required rate down.

The momentum swished to India, and they were in firm control as Rishabh Pant blitzed a 13-ball 26 that included two fours and two sixes before falling to Jordan (1-38).

As the momentum continued favouring India, Kohli finished off the game in the 18th over with an effortless six that he flicked over Jordan.

 

Written by: Oladipupo Mojeed