Yuvraj’s all-round performance helps India to win first T20 against England
Pune: Yuvraj Singh produced a brilliant all-round display as India got a comfortable five-wicket victory over England in the first Twenty20 International on Thursday night.
England to a manageable 157 for six and then blasted 38 off 21 balls to set up an easy chase as the home team reached the target with 13 balls to spare.
After the humiliation in the Test series, Indian team saw a change in fortune in the shortest format to take a 1-0 lead in the two-match series.
The turning point during India’s chase was the eighth over when Yuvraj launched into inexperienced left-arm spinner Danny Briggs hitting him for 18 runs which included two huge sixes over the deep mid-wicket region and a boundary.
While Gambhir hit three boundaries in his 16 while Rahane hit two sixes in his 19. Although they didn’t score many but they set the momentum.
Gambhir and Rahane’s dismissals for the addition of three runs in four balls left India at a shaky 44 for 2 and they were 52 for 2 at the end of six overs of Powerplay.
Bengal speedster Dinda came back for his second spell and captured two wickets in his third over which was the penultimate of the innings, by dismissing Samit Patel (24) and
Tim Bresnan (0) to finish with two for 18 after Ashwin had conceded 15 runs in his last over.
Ashwin was carted for a six each by Patel and Jos Butler, who cracked 33 not out in 21 balls with 3 sixes, two of those off Awana’s last over. Awana, and Chawla leaked plenty of runs.
Ashwin drew first blood with his first ball of his second over when Lumb, having been kept quiet in his first over, tried an ill-advised cross-batted heave and was trapped right in front.
With both the medium pacers proving expensive in their opening overs, India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni brought on Ravindra Jadeja only to see the left arm spinner crashed over long on for a six by Hales and then pulled to long leg for a four as the score jumped at an alarming rate for the home team. England finished the Powerplay period at 51 for 1.
