Birmingham, June 30: England kept their semi-final hopes alive as they registered a comprehensive 31-run win against India in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 match here on Sunday (June 30).
Jonny Bairstow slammed a brilliant century and set the tone for England after they won the toss and helped his team post a massive total of 337/7 in the stipulated 50 overs. While chasing the total on a dual-paced track India could only muster 306/5 in the 50 overs and Rohit Sharma's 102 went in vain.
Kohli slammed his fifth consecutive fifty in the tournament but fell at a crucial juncture and so was the case with Rohit who was also lost his wicket when the team needed him to shift gear. When Rishabh Pant (32) in the 40th over, India's plan in the run chase went haywire. Both Hardik Pandya and MS Dhoni couldn't close the game for their side when 104 runs were needed from the final 10 overs.
This is India's first loss in the tournament and credit goes to England batsmen and later their bowlers for ensuring the visitors couldn't free their arms in the final overs.
Here's how the match between India and England transpired:
Eoin Morgan, the winning skipper: I thought we had a perfect start. Winning the toss and batting first wasn't an easy decision but it turned out to be the best decision. Partnersips throughout took us to a really formidable total. From 10-20 overs we got about 90-95 runs. It lays a huge platform and the two main spinners of India were taken on. Hopefully, this is the brand of cricket that we want to play and it has taken off. The slower balls were gripping and were taking off the deck, so we weren't really worried. I was really happy with India's approach sitting back. But our bowlers were superb. Liam has been outstanding for us, especially in the middle overs. There is absolutely no easy game in this tournament, as Pakistan's game against Afghanistan showed yesterday.
Virat Kohli, the losing skipper: If batsmen are able to reverse sweep for a six you can't do much as a spinner. They had to be smarter with their lines as it was difficult to contain runs with one short boundary. I thought they were going towards 360 at one stage, so we did well to pull things back. We were happy to restrict them to 330. If we were clinical with the bat, the result could have been different, I think. We had a decent chance when they (Pant and Pandya) were in there. We kept losing wickets and that doesn't help in a big chase, but credit goes to England in the end. It's up to discussions with the two guys who were in there. They bowled in good areas and the ball was stopping, hence it was difficult to bat towards the end.
Jonny Bairstow | MoM: It was important to set a platform and assess the conditions early after winning the toss. It's been frustrating for the guys as we've played well but the results have not gone in our favour. We can improve things going forward against New Zealand. I was reacting to each ball. VVS definitely helped me with his knowledge against spin (while playing for Sunrisers). They bowled well upfront as they got few edges but we capitalised later. We have three must-win games in the next two weeks but we need to focus on the next game that we play against New Zealand.
Jonny Bairstow named the man of the match for his knock of 111 and laying the foundation for England. Bairstow credited spending time with VVS Laxman during IPL which helped him play the Indian wrist spinners well.
It's all over!! England have beaten India by 31 runs and they keep their semi-final hopes alive. Team India lose their first game of the tournament and it was an abject surrender from the Indians in the runs chase. First time since 1992 when England have defeated India in a WC game.
44 needed from the last 6 balls.
6 runs came from over no. 48. India are 287/5, 51 needed from 12 deliveries. Looks like India have given up in this run chase.
Just 5 runs came from that 47th over. India are 281/5.
The biggest difference between India and England's innings is that English batters hit 13 maximums while India haven't yet hit a single six.
Just 9 runs came from that Wood over. India - 276/5 in 46 overs. 62 needed from 24 deliveries. This match is slipping away from India's grip.
Wicket!! Liam Plunkett has ended Hardik Pandya's knock for 45 with a slow off-cutter. Vince (sub) takes a simple catch in the deep. Was that the game for England as well?? India - 267/5 in 44.5 overs.
Four! MS Dhoni hits Liam Plunkett into the mid-wicket to get his second boundary
Superb over from Archer as he concedes just 5 from it. India - 260/4 in 44 overs. They need 79 off 36 deliveries. The asking rate is 13 per over.
Just 7 runs came from that over bowled by Woakes. India - 255/4 in 43 overs. They are not getting those big hits. India haven't yet hit a single SIX in this inning.
Four! MS Dhoni hits Woakes over long-off and it fell just inches short of the boundary.
Just 5 singles came from that over bowled by Rashid. Excellent stuff from the spinner. India - 248/4 in 42 overs. They need 90 from 48 deliveries. The asking rate has climbed to 11.36
After 40 overs, India are 234/4. They need 104 more runs to win this match. English bowlers have done exceedingly well as they've not allowed the Indians to hit big shots. The required run rate is more than 10.
WICKET!! Rishabh Pant (32) looks to flick Plunkett for a maximum but Chris Woakes takes a brilliant catch in the deep. Another wicket perishes at a crucial time. India - 226/4 in 39.1 overs.
WHAT A CATCH!
— Wide World of Sports (@wwos) June 30, 2019
Woakes takes a wonderful catch on the boundary and Pant has to go.
Watch: @9Gem
Live stream: https://t.co/FTqTtl6YFv #9WWOS #ENGvIND #CWC19 pic.twitter.com/A7wLYz6F5G
4,4,4! Back-to-back boundaries from Hardik Pandya against Chris Woakes.
India 204/3 in 37 overs. England were 216/3 at the same stage. India need 134 runs from 74 deliveries.
BIG WICKET!! Rohit Sharma (102) edges Chris Woakes and Buttler takes a simple catch. The crowd at Edgbaston is also stunned as India lose their third wicket at a critical juncture. India - 198/3 in 36.1 overs.
Most individual 100s in a WC edition: 4 - Kumar Sangakkara (2015) 3 - Mark Waugh (1996), Sourav Ganguly (2003), Matt Hayden (2007), Rohit Sharma (2019*).
5 - @ImRo45 has become just the 5th player to score 3+ 100s at an edition of the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup and the second @BCCI player to do so (Ganguly 2003). Reprieved. #cwc19 #INDvENG pic.twitter.com/hiTua2QSou
— OptaJim (@OptaJim) June 30, 2019
ROHIT SHARMA brings up his 25th ODI ton, 3rd of the tournament. He's the fifth player to slam 3 tons in a WC.
India are 183/2 in 34 overs. They need 155 more to win from 16 overs. Rohit is nearing his third century in the tournament. But India need a big knock from him if they want to overhaul this total.
11 runs came from that over bowled by Plunkett. India - 166/2 after 32 overs. Rohit is batting in 90s.
150 comes up for India in the 30th over. They need 186 more runs from 120 deliveries.
The 138-run partnership between Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli is India's highest in World Cup 2019, bettering the previous highest of 136 runs set by KL Rahul and Rohit Sharma against Pakistan.
BIG WICKET! VIRAT KOHLI (66) is caught at point by James Vince (sub) and Liam Plunkett gives England the breakthrough they were looking for. The Indian captain has once again failed to convert a fine half-century into a well deserved ton. India - 146/2 in 28.2 overs.
Four, Four, Four! Back-to-back boundaries from Rohit Sharma's bat off Ben Stokes. He's looking to shift gears now.
India reach 120/1 in 25 overs.