CURRAN EFFORT PROVES IN VAIN
SAM Curran played the innings of a lifetime as he narrowly failed to drag England back from the brink in their one-day decider against India. Already beaten in the Test and Twenty20 legs, England’s seven-run defeat meant a clean sweep of defeats in all formats on tour but Curran’s improbable rescue job from number eight turned a lost cause into a nail-biting finale.
England were 168-6 chasing 330 when he walked to the crease, but he showed scant regard for the oppressive match situation as he heaved his way to a remarkable 95 not out.
The 22-year-old’s previous best in ODIs was just 15, while his highest score in any white-ball cricket stood at 57.
And yet, after being dropped in costly fashion by Hardik Pandya on just 22 he refused to be stopped.
With only the tail for company he set up a 50th-over shootout but could not clear the final hurdle as Thangarasu Natarajan prevented the two big hits England needed for glory.
They finished on 322-9, with Curran desperately close to finishing a Ben Stokes-level fightback.
The vast majority of his counterattack seemed certain to do little more than mitigate the margin of defeat, but over-by-over and blow-byblow the equation became more and more realistic as India’s fielding wilted under pressure.
In the end he needed 14 off the last six balls but could only take six as Natarajan finished well to secure a 2-1 series win for India.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who had figures of 3-42 from his 10 overs, admitted India were feeling the pressure as Curran chased down the target.
“It was tense. Being a bowler you are always under pressure, it is a small ground and there was a bit of dew, so yes there was tension in the ground but we did what we needed to do,” he said on Sky Sports.
“I bowled very well in the series, but the most important thing is the series ended well.”
Curran was named man of the match but admitted he was disappointed.
He said: “The main thing was we didn’t win the game, but I was really happy with how I played. I love winning but it was a great experience for me, I haven’t really done something like that, especially for England, but in the end we lost the game so I am really disappointed.
“I had a few messages from the dugout to try to take the game as deep as possible.”
England’s stand-in captain Jos Buttler said on Sky Sports: “I think both sides made mistakes throughout the game and both sides played some brilliant cricket, so it made for a great game. We are indebted to an unbelievable innings from Sam to nearly get us over the line, but congratulations to India for winning the series.
“Both sides have played brilliant cricket.”