Kumar shines as India beat England by 49 runs to seal T20 series win
Bhuvneshwar Kumar celebrates after taking the wicket Jason Roy on Saturday. Reuters
Ravindra Jadeja's fighting knock followed by a clinical bowling effort led India to an impressive 49-run win over England in the second T20I and 2-0 unassailable lead in the three-match series on Saturday.
England, set 171 for victory, were dismissed for 121 in 17 overs, with India seamer Bhuvneshwar Kumar taking 3-15. Earlier, India made 170-8 after being sent into bat.
Riding on Jadeja's innings (46 not out off 29), India posted a decent 170/8 in 20 overs, after being invited to bat first. Apart from Jadeja, Rohit Sharma (31 off 20) and Rishabh Pant (26 off 15) were the other main scorers for India.
Defending a challenging total, Bhuvneshwar Kumar struck with the first ball of the innings, getting the dangerous Jason Roy caught at slip. In his very next over, he took the big wicket of Jos Buttler through an under-edge, which Pant was sharp to spot and force India to go for the review. That was the fifth time Bhuvneshwar had Buttler's number.
Jashprit Bumrah, who was back in the fold after a long Test as captain, followed up Bhuvneshwar's twin strikes with the wicket of Liam Linvingstone, who was undone and bowled by a slow off-cutter, and later with the wicket of dangerous Sam Curran.
Yuzvendra Chahal, into the attack immediately after the PowerPlay, deceived Harry Brook in the air and had him caught in the deep as India's bowlers continued to pick wickets through the middle overs.
From there on, England never looked in contention to chase the winning total. Moeen Ali (35 off 21) and David Willey (33 not out off 22) tried hard but it was not enough as England were bowled out for 121 all out in 17 overs, losing by a huge margin of 49 runs.
Bhuvneshwar, who finished with 3 for 15, was adjudged the Player of the Match while Jasprit Bumrah (2/10) and Yuzvendra Chahal (2/10) and Harshal Patel (1/34) were the other wicket-takers for India.
Earlier, India's new opening pair of Rohit Sharma and Rishabh Pant gave India an attacking start. Both Rohit and Pant picked their spots, maximising the powerplay as David Willey and Moeen Ali faced some heat.
England debutant paceman Richard Gleeson removed all of India's top three on his way to 3-15 after the tourists had been 49 without loss.
It was Richard Gleeson, the oldest T20I debutant for England, who gave hosts their first breakthrough by dismissing Rohit in the fifth over of the innings. Despite Rohit's wicket, Pant went down the track and smacked a length delivery by Moeen over long-off for a smashing six as India crossed the 50-run mark.
Chris Jordan followed up with 4-27 but Ravindra Jadeja's unbeaten 46 kept India in the game.
Agencies
