England beat India in thrilling clash

Alex Hales held his nerve with an unbeaten half-century to ensure England’s series-levelling five-wicket win over India in Cardiff.

Eoin Morgan’s men needed to restate their white-ball credentials after their chastening defeat three days ago – and they did so effectively to set up a Vitality IT20 decider in Bristol tomorrow.

Hales (58no) hit a straight six off the first ball of the previously miserly Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s final over as England chased down 148 for five with two balls to spare.

After Morgan won the toss and Jake Ball supplied the early breakthrough in his first over on debut in this format.

He was the only bowler to eventually suffer as his final over of the innings gave up 22 runs.

It seemed all England had to do was avoid early wickets and/or any of the mayhem inflicted by Kuldeep Yadav at Old Trafford.

Jason Roy took a disdainful 14 runs off Umesh Yadav’s first over, only to go to the first ball of his second.

Buttler was soon gone too, escaping one chance off Umesh to Kohli at midoff only to give the India captain a second in the same position three balls later – duly held.

The out-of-sorts Root was then let down by his go-to sweep shot, missing a googly and losing his off-bail in Yuzvendra Chahal’s first over.

Morgan and Hales had a tricky time against India’s two wrist-spinners but had an important stand of 48.

The captain tried to hook one over the rope off Pandya, only to be well caught by an athletic Dhawan at longleg.

But Jonny Bairstow chipped in with some handy muscle, and Hales saw the task through with three fours and three sixes in a 39-ball half-century as England’s Manchester nemesis Kuldeep finished wicketless this time.