2nd T20I: Nehra, Bumrah delight in Indias 5-run win over England

England needed 32 from 24 before Nehra began the over and he not only prised out the wicket of dangerman Ben Stokes (38) but also plugged the leak of runs, allowing just five in it.

After an upsetting defeat in the first T20I of the three-match series, India are in a do or die situation as they need to make a strong comeback to save the series.

On a wicket where scoring runs wasn’t a cakewalk, KL Rahul marked his return to form with a well-crafted 71 but England kept India to a modest total. Incredibly, Ashish Nehra, the man who got the breakthrough, followed it up with a second consecutive dismissal with that of Jason Roy. England’s in-form skipper Eoin Morgan was then dismissed and the visitors were 65/3 after 10 overs.

Ashish Nehra, who took 3/28 and helped India stay in the game, heaped praised onBumrah for conceding just two runs in the last over.

Contributions from Root and Stokes looked to have England in box seat. “I knew in a game where we’re defending just 145, it was vital to get early wickets, and I’m glad I was able to do that”. We saw the first innings, it was on the slower side.

Jordan bowled a slower delivery on the off-stump to end an impressive 47-ball knock of Rahul. India scored 147 runs which chased by the English team easily. He played a large part in fashioning India’s win in the first ODI in Pune and nearly repeated the feat in the last ODI in Kolkata. Jasprit is a talented bowler, and very good at the death. I was hit for a first ball six in the last match. England walked off with chests puffed out, shirts glowing proudly under the lights in the Orange City, but the chase soon hit heavy water. “Losing the “in” batsman cost us”, he said. The match has started in Nagpur on Sunday.

HIGHER GROUNDs As India builds 110,000-seat mega stadium, we name world’s 20 biggest sport arenas. can you guess where No1 is? Here Bumrah did that superbly, delivering his box of tricks with such chutzpah that it left players of the calibre of Root and Jos Buttler left heaving more in hope than expectation. “It’s unbelievably disappointing to lose, but we still have a chance to win the series in Bangalore”. Virat Kohli and his team will have to go all guns ablaze to level the series. You don’t want to let the momentum slip away in the middle overs, especially with the series on the line.

So, despite some Stokes thrashing a pair of thunderous straight sixes after being bowled off a no ball first delivery, and Root anchoring the innings, the night ended with 40,000 lauding a classic finish and their desired result. Good reflexes, hand-eye coordination.