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‌IND vs ENG | Twitter reacts to Abhishek’s blitz and Varun’s mystery douse England in series opener

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ByArijit Kundu, SportsCafe Editor

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India kicked off the curtain raiser of the five-match T20I series with a seven-wicket triumph over England. Arshdeep Singh’s new ball exploit followed by Varun Chakravarthy’s three-fer curbed England to below-par 132 before Abhishek’s dynamic 79 decimated England at the City of Joy.

Brief Scores: ENG: 132 [Buttler: 68, Brook: 17; Varun: 3/23] lost to IND: 133/3 [Abhishek: 79, Samson: 26; Archer: 2/21] by seven wickets.

Eyeing to make a mark in the opening game of a five-match bout, Suryakumar Yadav’s decision to field first and capitalise on the tinge of grass worked well for India. Arshdeep Singh did as the doctor ordered, removed dangerous Phil Salt on the third ball of the innings, followed by Ben Ducket’s scalp in his next over. Unbothered by the score reading 17/2, Jos Buttler counterpunched Hardik Pandya for four boundaries in the fourth over, setting up a 46-run powerplay. Right after, Varun Chakaravarthy’s mystery wreaked havoc in the English middle order with Harry Brook and Liam Livingstone watching the timber tremble in the eighth over. They reached 74/4 in ten overs before Hardik Pandya outsmarted Jacob Bethell in the twelfth over. While Buttle kept the scoreboard ticking, the lower middle order struggled against the spinners as Axar removed Jamie Overton and Gus Atkinson with England at 110/8 in 17 overs. Axar conceded four in the next before 18 runs and a couple of wickets summed up the Three Lions’ 132-run total. 

Unlike their counterparts, India got off to a terrific start after a watchful first over from Jofra Archer. Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma ensured their trademark start in the format continued, irrespective of the opposition, consolidating a 41-run stand before Archer got the better of Samson and Suryakumar Yadav in the fifth over. Unscathed by the setbacks, Abhishek’s blitz propelled India to 63/2 in the powerplay while Tilak Varma played second fiddle. 37 runs came in the next four overs as Abhishek’s 20-ball half-century laid the foundation for the scoreboard reading 100/2 midway through the chase. With 33 required to win, Abhishek slammed 16 runs in the next over before getting out on 79 to Adil Rashid in the next over. With the hosts requiring six off the last eight overs, Hardik and Tilak Varma eased the cakewalk in the next five balls as India emerged on the top with a seven-wicket victory.

Classic celebration!

50 for abhishek

Sanju Samson 🔥

What a Performance!

Brilliant Knock!

Like fire!🔥

Well played!

🔥

What a player!👌

India Won By 7 Wickets

 

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