India hold their nerve as England fold under pressure

NAGPUR, India: Jasprit Bumrah kept his nerve to send down a brilliant final over and secure India’s series-levelling five-run victory against England in the second Twenty20 international yesterday.

Chasing 145 to take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series, England needed eight runs from the last over but the 23-year-old Bumrah bowled with ice in his veins, conceding only two runs while claiming two wickets.

Both Ben Stokes and Joe Root made 38 but their contributions were not enough to get England across the line.

Root, though, was unlucky to be given out leg-before on the first ball of the eventful final over with replays suggesting an inside edge.

There was no argument, however, when Bumrah bowled Jos Buttler with his fourth delivery of that over.

Needing six runs of the last ball, Moeen Ali failed to connect with the Bumrah delivery.

Earlier put into bat, India posted a modest score with opener Lokesh Rahul (71) supplying nearly half of the total in an otherwise insipid batting display by the hosts.

Chris Jordan (3/22) was the pick of England’s bowlers, picking up Virat Kholi, Rahul and MS Dhoni’s wickets.

The teams now move to Bangalore for the third and final Twenty20 International which marks the end of England’s tour. — Reuters