After winning the toss, England has elected to bat first and a brilliant ton from Bairstow, a breezy knock from Roy and Stokes innings set India a big target. India would have created history if they had chased this down but the English bowlers ensured it did not happen.
Rohit was fortunate to get the second chance as root drop a sitter at second slip, went on to make century but was not enough for the team to win the game.
England bowling was really good! They were tight with the new ball. The bowlers after that continued the same. The only time when runs came at a good pace for India was when Stokes and Rashid were bowling. Woakes and Plunkett were the picks.
It was Plunkett’s wickets though which were more crucial as he got Kohli Pant, and Pandya.
Chasing 338, India needed to get off to a good start but they lost Rahul for a Duck. Then Rohit and Kohli played themselves in, they found it difficult to score freely but hung in there. Once they got to hang off the surface, the runs started coming.
They added a 138-run stand but just as the momentum looked like it would shift, Kohli fell. Pant and Rohit then added another handy stand and revived Indian hopes but Rohit probably fell at the wrong time.
He was dismissed just after getting to his ton, at a time when he would have probably looked to accelerate. Pant then soon followed. Pandya found it difficult to time the ball as his innings progressed. Dhoni too struggled to find the fence and then 338 proved to be a huge target.
Eoin Morgan | England skipper:
We had a brilliant day, right from the beginning, the decision at the toss was not easy but it went well. Credits Jason Roy and Jonny Bairstow for the way they played and further adds contributions from the rest took them to a very good total. States they did really well to take on the two Indian spinners and it came off.
Informs the feedback from the first innings was it got tougher to bat on and that was in the back of his head and hence, he was not very worried. Tells he was quite happy to see India weren’t going all guns blazing at the end and his bowlers bowled really well.
Appreciates Plunkett for his effort and says he has been outstanding, especially in the middle period and he does it on a regular basis. Ends by saying the next game will not be an easy one and they can’t take any team lightly.
Virat Kohli | Indian skipper:
Every team has lost a game here or there, nobody likes to lose but England played better and they were more clinical. States the mood is the same in the dressing room though and they need to forget this and move forward. Informs the toss was not a massive factor, they should have been better with the bat as the wicket was flat but their bowlers were very good.
Tells there is not much you can do about it if a batsman reverse sweeps you for a biggie, it is difficult to contain with one short boundary. Further adds England were going towards 360 but they did well to pull them back, 15-20 runs less was what he would have liked.
Also, had they got to a good start it could have been different but wicket fell at wrong times. Mentions when Pandya and Pant were in there they still had a chance but they kept losing wickets and it became difficult for them. Ends by saying MS Dhoni was trying really hard to find the boundaries but it was difficult for him.
Jonny Bairstow | MAN OF THE MATCH:
says it was important they set a platform after winning the toss and opting to bat. States it has been frustrating, they know how well they can play, today they were pretty good with bat and ball and are looking forward to the game against New Zealand.
Mentions they were just reacting to each ball and had no plan on how to play the spinners. Further adds India bowled well up front, a couple of inside edges went for boundaries, they had luck on their side and they cashed in when it got easy.
Ends by saying this is the closest they have been to their best in this tournament and they need to continue as they probably have three must-win games coming up.
