Image Source : Depositphotos
Skipper Rohit Sharma smash 32nd ton helps India wins the series against England
India wins the series with Rohit's explosive century
India chased down their target of 305 with 33 balls to spare as Rohit and Shubman Gill gathered the 136-run partnership.
Rohit Sharma is back to his form as he gave a scorching century (119 off 90) in the 2nd ODI, which helped India get a series-clinch with a four-wicket win in the second ODI against England in Cuttack. In the second ODI India was chasing the target of 305 runs, and was guided by Rohit's brilliant performance and his partnership of 136 runs at the start with Shubman Gill, who scored 60 runs off 52 balls. Shreyas Iyer scored 44 runs and Axar Patel remained unbeaten with 41 runs. Their important contributions helped the home team win, even though they lost a few wickets towards the end.
At halftime, England’s 304 targets seemed to be a little difficult because of the slow black-soil surface where hard-length oddballs were stopping by. Whereas spinner and off-pace wasn’t easy to get. However, Batting under lights on black-soil pitches is usually easier, as Rohit Sharma demonstrated by starting quickly. He hit two sixes, one over deep square leg and another over deep cover, showing he was in great form. His aggressive play let Gill take his time, though Gill also played some impressive shots.
In the first ten overs, India’s all ten wickets were intact, which set the tone for the entire game. Even if the field spread, both the openers were in the same form, especially Rohit Sharma. In this excellent knock, he left Cris Gayle behind and got the No-2 position for the all-time six-hitter in the ODIs list. Adil Rashid got some turn, but when he started bowling, Rohit and Gill were so confident that they handled him easily. The ball didn't behave the same way it did in the afternoon when England was batting.
It took something special to stop the openers, and Jamie Overton delivered with a blazing yorker. Just before that, Gill had powerfully pulled a shot over mid-wicket. Then, Overton bowled a fastball that beat the Indian vice-captain. This brought Virat Kohli to the crease, but he struggled. Though he did hit a beautiful on-drive for four runs, he found it tough against Rashid's leg-spin. Eventually, one of Rashid's deliveries found the edge, and England's review succeeded for a crucial wicket.
It was a brief moment when the visiting team thought they could turn the game around. However, India was so far ahead in the chase that Rohit Sharma was able to slow down, and Shreyas Iyer could play safely for a few overs. Together, they added 70 runs quickly, off just 61 balls, with Rohit being the more aggressive partner. It looked like they might finish the chase on their own until Rohit got out.
Rohit had been hitting the ball well, even putting away decent deliveries for boundaries. Unfortunately, he mis-hit a full toss towards mid-wicket after stepping out to meet it. Liam Livingstone took the catch, but it was too late to change the game. Iyer and Axar Patel continued to push India's chase until Iyer was run out due to poor communication. KL Rahul and Hardik Pandya also got out as India neared the target, but the win was never in doubt. Axar and Ravindra Jadeja finished the game with 33 balls to spare.
In the afternoon, England batted better than in the first ODI. Joe Root scored 69, Ben Duckett got 65, and Liam Livingstone added 41. Phil Salt started well but got out early. Varun Chakaravarthy, on his ODI debut, broke the opening partnership, and Ravindra Jadeja made it hard for England's batters. The spinners slowed down the run rate, helping the fast bowlers take wickets.
Harshit Rana and Hardik Pandya dismissed key players, while Root held one end. Livingstone and Root aimed for a big total, but Jadeja's late wickets and poor shot selection by England limited their score. England's total could have been higher with better game awareness, but India's strong performance ensured their victory. Buttler might rethink his decision at the toss, as the pitch was better for spinners in the afternoon.
On February 12, the final game is set to be played in Ahmedabad. Although this match doesn't impact the series outcome, both teams see it as their last chance to prepare before the Champions Trophy.
Top Articles
See more
Kohli dismissed early; Pujara, Rahane, and Ayush Badoni narrowly missed out on centuries
31 Jan 2025
Shami, fully pain-free, aims to play domestic matches to prove his fitness for Australia
22 Oct 2024
New Zealand Fast Bowler Ben Sears Misses India Tour; Uncapped Jacob Duffy Added to Squad
15 Oct 2024
Sri Lanka Selects Former England Star Ian Bell as Batting Coach for Upcoming Test Series
14 Aug 2024
Get live cricket scores and insightful articles at Giritech Data Intelligence Pvt. Ltd. Follow your favorite matches and read expert analyses, player profiles, and more. Your ultimate destination for cricket updates and in-depth coverage.
Any Questions? Contact us at: contact@gamegiri.com
Copyright & Design By Giritech Data Intelligence Pvt. Ltd - 2025 All rights reserved.