A 175-run stand between Jonny Bairstow and Ben Stokes powered England to a series-levelling win in the 2nd ODI against India in Pune. Stokes was dismissed for 99 by Bhuvneshwar Kumar. The venue has a history of dishing out high-scoring encounters and this contest was an example of the same. England’s win takes the series to a series decider on Sunday with the series level at 1-1 after the first two games. More about the 2nd ODI report in detail below.
Set to chase 337 to win, England won the match with 39 balls to spare which was their fifth-fastest highest run-chase in ODI cricket. Stokes (99) and Bairstow (124) toyed with the Indian bowlers and put together 175 runs in less than 20 overs. The Bairstow-Stokes stand saw sixes being hit to all parts of the ground and the big hits being hit for fun. Their counter-attacking style of play demoralised the Indian bowlers and hurt them big time. This was after Bairstow had put up an opening stand of 110 runs with Jason Roy (55).
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Prasidh Krishna dismissed Bairstow to show some glimmer of hope as England lost two quick wickets with Stokes and Buttler on 287. However, an unbeaten 50-run stand between Liam Livingstone (27*) and Dawid Malan (16*) ensured England a comfortable victory at the end. As many as 20 sixes were hit by the England batsmen with Stokes hitting 10 of them alone.
Ben Stokes-Jonny Bairstow Takes England To Series Levelling Win
All the Indian bowlers were expensive with Kuldeep Yadav going for 84 off his spell. Bairstow yet again took a special liking to him. Prasidh Krishna’s double-wicket over gave England a brief scare but to no avail at the end.
Meanwhile, put into bat first, Virat Kohli yet again missed his elusive hundred. He scored 66 off 79 balls before perishing to Adil Rashid. KL Rahul scored his fifth ODI ton and in the process silencing his critics once again.
Rahul walked into bat at number four and had a good start to his innings. India lost their openers in the second game early and that was when Rahul and Virat Kohli forged a partnership. The duo added a 121-run stand before Adil Rashid accounted for Virat Kohli’s wicket. England skipper Jos Buttler had earlier dropped Kohli on 35 and finally dismissed him on 66.
KL Rahul then added 113 runs with Rishabh Pant who scored a quickfire fifty on his ODI return for Team India. Pant played some outrageous shots in the process as Rahul took a backseat. Rahul finally was dismissed for 108. Shortly after, Pant was dismissed for 77.
Hardik Pandya played a cameo (35 off 16) to take India to 336/6 which was not enough at the end. England chased the total down in a canter and the batting display and power-hitting from their batters was simply outstanding.
Like the T20Is, the ODI series too is set for a decider on Sunday, March 28. The game will culminate England’s tour to India. The visitors lost the Test and the T20I series after taking the lead in both formats.
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