England fail to finish the job after Bairstow blitz
ENGLAND were unable to capitalise on a rampaging opening stand from Jonny Bairstow and Jason Roy as India claimed a 66-run victory in the first of three ODIs at Pune.
Set 318 to win, England’s openers flew out of the traps, smashing 135 in 14.2 overs, but Roy’s dismissal opened the floodgates and, despite Bairstow’s incendiary 94 from 66 balls, the tourists subsided.
Debutant Prasidh Krishna finished with four for 54 as England were bundled out for 251 after a late surge from KL Rahul and Krunal Pandya propelled India to 317 for five.
Eoin Morgan required four stitches on his hand, while Sam Billings sprained his collarbone joint after an awkward fall. Both missed the closing stages of India’s innings, although they were able to bat.
The absence of Morgan was a particular blow as Rahul and Krunal, also making his ODI bow, brutalised England’s bowlers in an unbroken 112-run stand, helping India recover after losing four for 36 at one stage.
Shikhar Dhawan (98) and Virat Kohli (56) laid the foundations for Rahul (62 not out) and Krunal (58no), whose 26-ball half century was the fastest by a debutant in ODIs
If that was impressive, then Bairstow and Roy went up another gear as England looked set to make light of the chase with an incredible 135-run stand in less than 15 overs.
However, Roy’s miscue to point for 46 appeared to derail the tourists, while Ben Stokes’ move up the order in Joe Root’s absence backfired as he chipped to extra cover to give Krishna two wickets in two overs.
Bairstow then holed out to deep midwicket off Shardul Thakur, who further swung the pendulum India’s way when Morgan got a thin edge to a bouncer, while Jos Buttler was trapped on the crease for two.
England had lurched from 135 without loss to 176 for five and it was ultimately a position from which were unable to recover.