Cardiff: Alex Hales (58 n o, 41b, 4×4, 3×6) played a magnificent innings to power a much-improved England to a series-levelling five-wicket victory over India in the second T20 International here Friday evening. The hosts scored 149 for five in 19.4 overs to overcome India’s sub-par total of 148 for five on a Sophia Gardens surface that offered bounce.
After the visitors had struggled to get going and were reduced to 22 for three within the first five overs, skipper Virat Kohli (47, 38b, 1×4, 2×6) and his predecessor MS Dhoni (32 n o, 24b, 5×4) held the innings together to take India close to the 150-run mark.
England used the short-ball tactics to good effect and dismissed both openers Rohit Sharma (five) and Shikhar Dhawan (10) early on. Rahul also looked uncomfortable against the pace and bounce. Rohit fell trying to pull and gloved the ball behind, while Rahul played down the wrong line and was bowled by Liam Plunkett (1/17) .
Three balls later, Dhawan was run out in a bizarre manner as he failed to make ground going for a quick single, and lost control of his bat at the same time.
Dhawan’s dismissal brought Suresh Raina (27, 20b, 2×4, 1×6) to the crease. Even though he looked uncomfortable he steadied the ship putting on 57 runs for the fourth wicket with Kohli. The Indian skipper, however, was fortunate to see Jason Roy drop him off Adil Rashid (1/29) at long-on. But just as they were trying to accelerate, Raina was stumped off Rashid.
Playing his 500th international game, Dhoni then played a responsible knock, before finally exploding in the last over of Jake Ball (1/32) which went for 22 runs.
Chasing 149, England didn’t get off to the best start as Umesh Yadav (2/36) bowled Jason Roy (15) in the third over with a beautiful inswinger. Even though Jos Buttler survived a dropped catch by Kohli off Umesh, the same combination got the batsman out 10 balls later.
Hales and skipper Eoin Morgan (17) then added 48 runs for the fourth wicket. Even as England were in cruise mode, Hardik Pandya (1/28) provided the breakthrough against the run of play. In fact, the wicket should be attributed to Dhawan who took a leaping catch at fine leg boundary that stunned the crowd.
However, England were untroubled as Jonny Bairstow (28, 18b, 2×6) put them back on track hitting two sixes in the 17th over off Kuldeep Yadav (0/34).
Brief scores: India 148/5 (Virat Kohli 47; MS Dhoni 32 n o, Liam Plunkett 1/17, David Willey 1/18) lost to England 149/5 (Alex Hales 58 n o; Umesh Yadav 2/36) by five wickets.