T20 - SAD STORY CONTINUED...
- By S.Ravichandran
The only T20I match of the series was played at Old Trafford, Manchester on 31st August 2011. India won the toss and elected to bat. Parthiv Patel and newcomer Rahane opened the innings for India. While Parthiv Patel disappointed getting out for 10 runs, Rahane played a fluent innings garnering 61 runs off 49 runs. Dravid, who made his T20 Debut in this match, struggled initially not being able to keep pace with Rahane. But he made amends by hitting three successive 6s off Samit Patel. With India losing just one wicket by the end of the 10th over and also maintaining the run rate around 9, a score of 200 was very much on the cards. Normal game would have lead them to a score of 180 at least. But things went worse towards the end of the innings. With the exception of Raina, who made a brisk 33, other batsmen contributed towards creating a telephone number. India were bowled out for 165 in 19.4 overs. Dernbach was the pick of the bowlers for England claiming 4 wickets for 22 runs.
England chase started disastrously losing Hales, who was out plumb in front to Praveen Kumar, without troubling the scorers. Pietersen who came in at No.3 lived dangerously. But the runs he made were useful to the team. He got out for 33. Morgan however kept the tempo with some huge hits supported by Ravi Bopara who played with some good sense, though his strike rate was not that much great. Penultimate over from Munaf Patel fetched just 3 runs. Needing 10 runs from the final over of Vinay Kumar, the pressure started mounting. Umpire helped England by starting the over with a wide, though the ball was within the mark. Samit Patel hit three successive boundaries helping England maintain their superiority in the series.
Reckless batting effort from India and some poor fielding from some of the Indian fielders cost them the match apart from fetching a controversial "Donkey" tag.
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