2nd T20I: Axar and Varun Claim Two Wickets Each as England Sets India a Target of 166

Chennai, Jan 25 (NationPress) The spin combination of Axar Patel and Varun Chakravarthy claimed two wickets each as England set India a target of 166 after scoring 165/9 in the second T20I at the MA Chidambaram Stadium on Saturday.

After being asked to bat first, captain Jos Buttler once again showcased his skills, top-scoring with 45, while Brydon Carse provided a late surge with a quick 31 off 17 balls, contributing to a significantly improved batting display from England. Despite the favorable batting conditions and the presence of dew, it remains uncertain if England has posted a sufficient score to avoid a 2-0 deficit in the five-match series.

For India, Axar and Varun were the standout bowlers, achieving figures of 2-32 and 2-38 respectively, as the hosts bowled a total of 14 overs of spin, marking the joint second-most overs bowled by their slower bowlers in a men’s T20I match. India's innings commenced positively as Arshdeep Singh dismissed Phil Salt with a short ball that was pulled straight to deep square leg.

Buttler took charge against Arshdeep in the third over, hitting him for two boundaries before driving one into the gap on the off-side for two fours and a six. Local hero Washington Sundar struck again in the power-play, dismissing Ben Duckett, who attempted a reverse-sweep on his slower delivery but managed only a top edge to point.

While Buttler continued his assault, hitting Sundar and Ravi Bishnoi for sixes, Harry Brook impressed with his ability to slog-sweep and play inside-out against Axar for a six and a four. However, his promising innings was cut short by Chakaravarthy, who bowled him with a delivery that turned in from outside off.

At the inning's midpoint, Axar claimed the prized wicket of Buttler, who attempted a big shot over mid-wicket but was caught in the deep for 45 off 30 deliveries. The left-arm spinner struck once more when Liam Livingstone attempted a pull shot but ended up holed out to deep backward square leg.

Debutant Jamie Smith showcased excellent footwork, smashing two sixes and a four in his 12-ball 22 before being caught at long-off against Abhishek Sharma.

Carse took the charge by stepping down the pitch, hitting three sixes and a four in his 17-ball 31, but both he and Jamie Overton fell quickly after. Boundaries from Adil Rashid, Jofra Archer, and Mark Wood ensured that England surpassed the 160-run mark.

Brief Scores: England 165/9 (Jos Buttler 45, Brydon Carse 31; Axar Patel 2-32, Varun Chakaravarthy 2-38) against India