1st ODI: Gill, Iyer, and Patel's Fifties Propel India to Four-Wicket Victory Over England
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Synopsis
In the first ODI of the series, India triumphed over England by four wickets, powered by significant contributions from Shubman Gill, Shreyas Iyer, and Axar Patel. Despite a shaky start, they chased down 249 runs with 68 balls remaining, showcasing their batting prowess at the Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium in Nagpur.
Key Takeaways
- Shubman Gill scored 87 runs, narrowly missing a century.
- Shreyas Iyer contributed 59 runs, playing aggressively.
- Axar Patel added a valuable 52 runs to the chase.
- India won by four wickets, reaching 251/6 in 38.4 overs.
- Bowling efforts from Ravindra Jadeja and Harshit Rana restricted England to 248.
Nagpur, Feb 6 (NationPress) Shubman Gill narrowly missed out on a century but forged significant partnerships with Shreyas Iyer (59) and Axar Patel (52) to guide India past England by four wickets in the opening ODI of the three-match series held at the Vidarbha Cricket Association (VCA) Stadium on Thursday.
In pursuit of 249 runs for victory, following a stellar bowling display from Ravindra Jadeja (3-26) and debutant Harshit Rana (3-53) that limited England to a modest total, India managed to reach 251/6 in just 38.4 overs, clinching the win with 68 balls remaining, despite being without the influential Virat Kohli.
Gill, who scored 87, built a crucial 94-run partnership for the third wicket with Iyer, and a 108-run stand for the fourth wicket with Patel, leading India to a comfortable win after Buttler won the toss and opted to bat first.
India's innings began poorly, losing captain Rohit Sharma (2) and debutant Yashasvi Jaiswal early, with just 15 runs on the board. Rohit lasted only seven balls, caught in a mistimed attempt against Saqib Mahmood, while Jaiswal, in his first ODI, contributed 15 runs from 22 balls.
However, Gill and Iyer counter-attacked, navigating the innings past the 100-run milestone with a pivotal 94-run partnership, as Iyer accelerated to his fifty in just 30 balls, hitting four fours and two sixes.
Iyer showcased his aggressive style, scoring three boundaries in one over against Brydon Carse and executing a paddle sweep to complete his fifty, although he was eventually dismissed for 59 off 36 balls.
Gill remained steadfast at the crease, reaching his 14th ODI fifty with 60 balls, and continued to find boundaries with finesse. He and Patel guided India towards 200 runs, with Axar contributing significantly with his own fifty off 46 balls.
Despite losing two wickets in quick succession, India remained on course for victory. Pandya and Ravindra Jadeja ensured that India crossed the finish line, ultimately winning by four wickets with ample overs to spare.
Brief scores: England 248 all out in 47.4 overs (Jos Buttler 52, Jacob Bethell 51; Ravindra Jadeja 3-26, Harshit Rana 3-53) lost to India 251/6 in 38.4 overs (Shubman Gill 87, Shreyas Iyer 59, Axar Patel 52; Saqib Mahmood 2-47, Adil Rashid 2-49) by four wickets.
