India Beat England for 9th Time in Last 10 Matches at Home, Take 1-0 ODI Series Lead
In a thrilling encounter, India defeated England by four wickets in the first ODI in Nagpur on Thursday to take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series. The win marked India’s ninth successive victory over England in their last 10 matches at home, further solidifying their dominance over the visitors.
England won the toss and elected to bat first, but they could only manage to score 248 runs in their 50 overs. The Indian bowlers, led by Jasprit Bumrah and Deepak Chahar, were impressive as they kept the English batsmen in check throughout the innings. England’s top scorer was Joe Root, who scored 49 runs off 54 balls.
In response, India got off to a shaky start, losing their first two wickets for just 12 runs. However, the experienced duo of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli steadied the ship with a 74-run partnership. Kohli scored 35 runs off 40 balls, while Sharma remained unbeaten on 46 runs off 64 balls.
The chase was slowed down by some tight bowling from England, but India’s middle-order batsmen, including Suryakumar Yadav and Hardik Pandya, played crucial roles in taking the team close to the target. Yadav scored 27 runs off 23 balls, while Pandya remained unbeaten on 24 runs off 18 balls.
India eventually reached the target in 38.4 overs, with Shardul Thakur hitting the winning runs. The victory was India’s ninth in their last 10 matches against England at home, a testament to their dominant performance in ODI cricket.
The win also marked a milestone for Rohit Sharma, who became the first Indian captain to win 50 ODIs. Sharma, who has been in excellent form recently, was thrilled with the team’s performance and praised the bowlers for their effort.
“We were very clinical with our bowling and fielding, and that’s what won us the game,” Sharma said after the match. “The bowlers did a fantastic job, and the batsmen did well to chase down the target. It was a great team effort.”
The second ODI will take place in Cuttack on Sunday, and England will be eager to bounce back from this defeat. However, India’s dominance at home and their recent form make them the favorites to win the series.
In conclusion, India’s victory in the first ODI was a clinical one, showcasing their strengths in all departments of the game. With their ninth consecutive win over England at home, India have further solidified their position as one of the top ODI teams in the world.
