BIRMINGHAM, United Kingdom: England captain Eoin Morgan laid the platform for a thrilling three-run win over India in the lone Twenty20 international at Edgbaston yesterday.
Morgan top-scored with a dashing 71 in England’s 180 for seven after he won the toss.
Nevertheless, India -- in the final match of their tour of England -- were cruising to victory while Virat Kohli (66) was at the crease.
But when he was out India lost their way and they needed 17 off the last over, bowled by Chris Woakes, to win.
But, importantly, India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni, one of the world’s most dynamic limited overs batsmen, was facing and he promptly launched the first ball of the over over square-leg for six.
The next ball saw India complete a risky two as Dhoni retained the strike.
Dhoni failed to score off the third ball but mishit the fourth off paceman Woakes for a boundary over long off.
India now needed five to win off two balls. Dhoni then edged Woakes to square leg but refused a single that would have put Ambati Rayudu on strike.
That left him needing a six off the last ball to win the match or four to send the game into a super over.
But no bounbary came as England held on for victory.
Former Ireland left-hander Morgan had managed just 198 runs in his last 10 one-day international innings.
But the number five showed his class in a 31-ball knock which included three fours and seven sixes.
Alex Hales made 40 and all-rounder Ravi Bopara 21 not out off nine balls as England scored 67 in the last four overs, with India’s ‘death bowling’ -- an area Dhoni has said they must improve if they are to retain their 50-over World Cup title in Australia and New Zealand early next year -- again proving a problem.
India paceman Mohammed Shami led the tourists’ attack with three for 38 in his maximum four overs.
Meanwhile Ajinkya Rahane held four catches, including a superb grab to dismiss opener Hales. Jason Roy, given an England debut after topping this season’s domestic T20 scoring charts with 677 runs for Surrey, fell for eight when he drove Shami to Rahane at extra-cover. AFP
