365 Sporting Days

My cricket schedule means I’ve fallen behind on writing, here’s hoping I can keep up with the test matches!

This was the second of three T20’s to start this series between England and India, India had won the first game at Old Trafford in an atmosphere that was more akin to a home game for them.  The weather in England in the build up had also given conditions that suited the Indian spinners.  England were undone by Kuldeep who took who took 5 for 24 from his 4 overs.  India won by 8 wickets as KL Rahul made his mark with a century.

(No apologies for the Jonny photos – some of my favourites for the summer already!)

Eoin Morgan won the toss in Cardiff and as is his favoured position, he elected to field.  Rohit Sharma was the first to lose his wicket, he was caught by Jos Buttler from the bowling of Jake Ball for 5.

It seems to be strange to write that a bowler took a wicket to then moan about his inclusion, but moan I’m going to! Jake Ball took 5 wickets in the Royal London Cup in 2017 and has taken 14 this summer having bowled 69 overs.  Clearly this summer has been better, but I find him to be a really average bowler, which probably means he’ll take a hat full if he plays in the One Day matches!

With the loss of Rohit India were 7 for 1, a crazy run out saw Shakhar Dhawan following Rohit back to the dressing room in the 5th over.  A great throw from Jason Roy saw captain Morgan shrugging his shoulders as he took the bails off, but with a re-run it was clear that Dhawan hadn’t grounded his bat, a crazy way to lose your wicket! India were 22 for 2, then very quickly 22 for 3 as KL Rahul was clean bowled by Liam Plunkett 3 balls later!

Suresh Raina joined Virat Kohli at the crease, well, at the other end! Full on hysteria happens when Kohl arrives on a cricket pitch and every run he scored was greeted with deep joy whether it was a single or a Six!

I confess I was relieved not to have a group of India fans in front of us, I was with my good friend Monica, there are huge groups whose sole intention seems to be to get on the TV, which in general means those sitting behind don’t get to see much of the cricket.  I’m not sure the TV seekers do either which is all a bit strange!

Kohli is a delight to behold, after a really disappointing competition against a weak Australia team I was relieved that the full India team, with the exception of Bumrah was in this series, I want to watch the best playing.

Raina made 27 from 20 balls but found himself outside of his crease to a ball from Adil Rashi, Buttler was quicker than him and he was stumped.  India were 79 for 4, a very useful partnership of 57.

Next up was MS Dhoni, it’s very unusual to see a batsman walk on with a cap on, but that’s what Dhoni does when he’s facing a spinner.

The pair put on a further 32, but the whole India innings had been slow going.  Kohli scored 47 but hit only 1 Four and 2 Sixes,  he was caught by Joe Root from the bowling of Adil Rashid in the 18th over and India were 111 for 5.

England had bowled well in restricting India, until the final over when Jake Ball gave away 22 runs, leaving India with a score they were more likely to defend – 148 for 5.  Dhoni finished on 32 and Hardik Pandya 12.

Jason Roy and Jos Buttler opened the batting for England, Umesh opened the bowling for India, Roy hit 14 runs from his first over.  Bhuvneshwar Kumar slowed things down restricting England to 2 runs.

Umesh was clearly peeved with the start to his spell and he redressed the balance, clean bowling Roy with the first ball of his second over!

England were 16 for 1.  Joe Root came in at 3, Jos Buttler England’s in form batsman was Umesh’s next ‘victim’, Kohli got himself on the end of a good catch .  At 33 for 2 the run chase wasn’t quite going as planned!

Alex Hales, also in a fine vein of form joined Root with England needing 116 from 9 balls.  Although a steadying influence so often root only survived 10 balls before being bowled by Chahal for 9.  England were 44 for 3.

Things were going well for India with the ball and England needed a partnership.  Captain Eoin Morgan and Alex Hales provided that.  They put on a very valuable 48 before Morgan was caught by a wonder catch from Shikhar Dhawan which more than made up for his bizarre run out.  Morgan had made 17 and England had moved to 92 for 4.

Things were going well for India with the ball and England needed a partnership.  Captain Eoin Morgan and Alex Hales provided that.  They put on a very valuable 48 before Morgan was caught by a wonder catch from Shikhar Dhawan which more than made up for his bizarre run out.  Morgan had made 17 and England had moved to 92 for 4.

(I make no apologies for the 3 photos of Shikhar Dhawan, he was fielding close by 🙂 )

It must be a bit of a nightmare seeing Jonny Bairstow coming in to bat at 6 when things aren’t quite going your way.  A quick fire 28 in 18 balls and Bairstow was out caught by Kuldeep from the bowling of Kumar.

Out went one dynamic batsman in came another in the form of David Willey, with 23 runs needed for the win he and Hales took their team to the wining post.  Hales ended on 58 not out, a match winning innings!  And the series would move to Bristol with all to play for.