Cricket News: England VS India 3rd ODI Rishabh Pant ton win the series for India
In 2020, England got defeated by Australia in an ODI, and now by India in 2022. For Australia, it was Alex Carey and Glenn Maxwell. It is Rishabh Pant and Hardik Pandya for India
India's Rohit Sharma with the trophy after his side won the series 2-1 against England following the third one day international match at the Emirates Old Trafford, Manchesterhanding over the third ODI series defeat to England at home since 2015, with all the series deciders held at Old Trafford.
Indian bowlers kept England batters on their knees; they neither let the host create a longer partnership nor bat complete 50 overs, ending on an average total of 259. The rest of the match was about the 113-run strong partnership between Rishabh Pant and Hardik Pandya and a mature maiden century inning by Rishabh Pant that cost England the series.
Indian skipper Rohit Sharma made a bold move by opting to bowl on winning the toss. The decision was shocking as Old Trafford's pitch had remarkable numbers for the side batting first as they won eight of the nine.
England, batting first, lost two crucial wickets for a duck in the second over itself. Mohammed Siraj took Jonny Bairstow and Joe Root and put India in the driving seat. After that, England managed to build only two partnerships of more than 50 runs and continued losing wickets. For the first time in this India tour, England captain Jos Buttler looked in touch with the bat and could fetch his only 50-plus score on this tour. India's attack, which started with Mohammed Siraj, was well complemented by four wickets from Hardik Pandya and finished excellently with Yuzvendra Chahal's three quick tail-ender wickets. England failed to bat complete 50 overs and finished at an average total of 259.
England started well to defend the total when they reduced India to 38/3 in 8.1 overs. Their new trump card left-arm seamer Reece Topley yet again gave a stunning start by dismissing India's top three - Rohit Sharma (17), Shikhar Dhawan (1) and Virat Kohli (17). But Rishabh Pant and Hardik Pandya slowly turned the table when they started to rebuild the innings from 72/4. While Hardik Pandya timed with his bat from the minute he walked out, Rishabh Pant took some time to settle. The duo stitched a 133-run stand at the fifth wicket before Ben Stokes pulled an excellent catch to dismiss Hardik Pandya at 71.
With just 55 runs away from the win, Rishabh Pant made a mockery out of the chase. Before finishing off his style with a reverse sweep, he smashed five successive boundaries in an over to accelerate the inning. He scored his maiden ODI century to stay unbeaten at 125 and seal the series win with five wickets and 47 balls remaining.
While Rishabh Pant won Player of the Match, Hardik Pandya was awarded Player of the series for his performance. India will now fly off for the West Indies tour with many big names missing out on it, while England will host South Africa from 19th July 2022 for an ODI series.