Highlights, India vs England, 3rd ODI at Headingley, Full Cricket Score: Hosts win by 8 wickets, clinch series 2-1

Eoin Morgan, England captain: Outstanding. The tone was set by the bowlers early on David Willey and Mark Wood. The ball swung a little for 4-5 overs.There was no let up. We know the conditions really well and we took advantage of that it. It was never going to be belter but it was a good wicket, maybe 300-320, but the spinners bowled brilliantly. They guys at my right made my decisions look good. As a captain, you are only good as your team. We were off the mark at Trent Bridge and India punished us.and since then we have done well, and grown as much as we could. It’s satisfying that we learnt over the series, made plans, and executed what we said we’d do. So that builds confidence in the team. Time wise there is long way to go. We need to be at our best going into the World Cup.

English players come on the podium to collect their winners medallions.

Virat Kohli, India captain: I thought we were 25-30 runs less. We were just not good enough. Initially, with the new ball , it was two pace and in the middle, it became slow. Those two spinners again bowled well in partnership. No, not the batting order. I thought Dinesh was actually going well. Bhuvi is experience and Shardul has done well and we thought of giving him the exposure. When the changes come off, they look good and when they don’t, they do not look good. These losses will give us a look what needs to be done before the World Cup. These losses will tell us exactly what needs to be rectified. Test series is going to be very challenging. It is going to be a hard fought series and we are looking forward to the challenge. It was a quality ball. I am playing against him from U19 days. Just the kind of deliveries where you just stand and give respect.

Joe Root: It feels fantastic to come into a big series and to see our team perform the way we did is great. It was on the slower side but was pretty good wicket. Because of bowlers hardwork there wasn’t much scoreboard pressure. Doing the right things and prepare well. Putting real faith in your game and backing your game. Nice to turn it around. We have obviously done well in the last few games. Really pleased about it today, hopefully we keep moving forward. India has played some real good Test cricket.

Joe Root is the Player of the Series. He hit two centuries in this series.

Rashid: It was nice. All the seamers bowler well. Moeen Ali and I got in well and got reward. The plan remains the same. Stick to the strength. You go in the nets, you work hard, games give you confidence. Yes, getting Kohli out gave immense confidence. Big crowd at Headingley, always nice to play here.

Adil Rashid is the Player of the Match

So India’s nine-series’ winning streak has ended… and in tame fashion really… last ball hundred for Root despite some shady antics from Pandya… and then came the bat drop… almost like a mic drop that… we should stop talking about wrist spin now probably. 

Root turned a corner against spin in this series and since then England haven’t let up at all… India have been shown up in a lot of aspects, especially their middle order and lower order batting, their pace bowling and indeed when their fielding is put under pressure. They might one of the favourites for next year’s World Cup but if you look at just the last two games, there is plenty wrong with them. 

India have a five-day break now… before the practice game ahead of the Test series. Some time to think for the selectors ahead of the Test series, or just some time off… but make no mistake, this side is not World Cup ready just yet.

Yep, the conditions and the pitch were much favourable to the visiting side more than it helped the home side. England did play better cricket.

India have lost their first ODI series under Kohli. After winning game one by a massive margin. They have lost on pitches that ought to have suited them. And they have been undone by quality spin. Well done England. Quality stuff.

— Siddhartha Vaidyanathan (@sidvee) July 17, 2018

Agree?

This is England’s eighth consecutive bilateral ODI series win and India’s first bilateral ODI series defeat under the captaincy of Virat Kohli.

Most centuries for England in ODIs:

13 – JOE ROOT*
12 – Marcus Trescothick 
10 – Eoin Morgan 
9 – Kevin Pietersen

This series loss against England ends India’s nine consecutive series wins which began in June-2016. 

This is also the first time that India have lost a decider in a three-match ODI series since 1998.

England win 3rd ODI by 8 wickets to claim the 3-match ODI series 2-1.

To make things sweeter, Joe Root gets to his second hundred in as many ODIs with a boundary to mid wicket, which is also the winning shot. 

Couple off the first ball. A wide on off side followed and then after a dot. Root smacked a high full toss to mid wicket fence to cap of the win and series bringing his 13th ODI century. 

There is *bat drop* from Joe Root to celebrate his ton and the victory.

So India win T20I series 2-1.

England take the ODIs 2-1

All to play for the 5-match Tests that starts in August.

After 44 overs,England 253/2 ( Joe Root 94 , Eoin Morgan (C) 88)

With Morgan and Root having decided that they will take their own sweet time to reach the target, Indian bowlers have decided to slip a few wide deliveries as we crawl towards the target. 4 more runs needed. The 45th over should surely be the last over.

After 43 overs,England 250/2 ( Joe Root 93 , Eoin Morgan (C) 87)

Hardik is called back to bowl his 5th over. Bhuvi fluffs a chance, wouldn’t have mattered in the context of the game but Hardik is denied a wicket. Couple of wides, one because of height and the other down the leg side. Throw in few singles and now England seven runs away. Just exactly how much Root needs for back-to-back ton. It will Morgan who will take strike though. Come on Root strike couple of boundaries and own a record.

India cannot catch a break as Bhuvi puts down Morgan… not as if it would have changed anything but India’s fielding today has been shambolic..

DROPPED! Morgan’s eyes light up on seeing the full toss, wanted to hit the screws off that delivery, but strikes it to long on and Bhuvneshwar Kumar spills it. Bowler Hardik has his hands over his head. Morgan dropped on 85.

After 42 overs,England 244/2 ( Joe Root 91 , Eoin Morgan (C) 85)

Into the 90s now Joe Root. Played a gorgeous straight drive to collect four more. England crawling towards victory. India batted this way throughout the innings. 13 more needed.

FOUR! We have had some sublime strokeplay today and here’s another one, perhaps one of the best in the lot. Just a push from Root, who presents the full face as the ball races straight down the ground for four

After 41 overs,England 239/2 ( Joe Root 86 , Eoin Morgan (C) 85)

Another over where Root and Morgan work three singles. Are in no rush whatsoever. Come on lads, take this home with some still.

After 40 overs,India 196/6 ( MS Dhoni (W) 27 , Bhuvneshwar Kumar 2)

Shardul Thakur is back on. The Indian dressing room looks gloomy, sad faces all around. They can see the result of this match easily. Not enough room left for India to make any sort of comeback. England need 21 runs in 60 balls.

Shardul Thakur comes into the attack.

After 39 overs,India 195/6 ( MS Dhoni (W) 27 , Bhuvneshwar Kumar 1)

Bhuvneshwar continues. Both the batsmen are in 80s now and with under 30 runs required, only one of them can reach to the three-figure mark. There can be a case where both stop in their 90s. It does not really matter. The bigger picture is that in any scenario, England are winning this. Need 24 runs in 67 balls

Bhuvneshwar back on.

After 38 overs,India 192/5 ( MS Dhoni (W) 27 , Hardik Pandya 19)

Kuldeep continues. He has bowled well, tossed the ball up to the batsmen. But against in-form Root and Morgan, his mojo seems to be not working. England cruising, England need 28 runs in 72 balls.

SIX! Little short, enough for Morgan to rock back and dispatch it between deep mid-wicket and long-on, that brings up 150-run partnership between him and Root.

Kuldeep continues

After 37 overs,India 190/5 ( MS Dhoni (W) 26 , Hardik Pandya 18)

Bhuvneshwar is back into the attack but does not bring his mojo back. Root and Morgan continue to play it so easily and take singles. Gavaskar on commentary says, ‘England fans should be worried that Root does not convert his fifties and sixties into big ones to Alan Wilkins replies, “Indian fans will be hoping the same happens when the Test begins.” This is more of an interesting battle than that going on in the middle at the moment.England need 38 to win 78 balls.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar back into the attack.

After 36 overs,India 181/5 ( MS Dhoni (W) 25 , Hardik Pandya 10)

Kuldeep comes into the attack. Morgan and Root have given a lesson in batting to India today. What a solid partnership, something which India lacked in their innings. They have solved the Kuldeep puzzle so, so well and India now looking down to loss of series. England need 44 runs to win.

After 35 overs,England 211/2 ( Joe Root 74 , Eoin Morgan (C) 69)

Even before we could see visuals at the batsmen’s end to check if Joe Root got his foot back in or not. Chahal had overstpped and it has been called a no-ball. Tell you what, Root was gone, again MS Dhoni was lightening quick behind the stumps. Joe Root smashes the free-hit for a boundary. That kind of a day. India is having. One turned sharply to beat Morgan’s stumps.

FOUR! Joe Root makes full use of the free-hit as Joe Root clears front leg to tonk it to long on fence.

Crowd not interested and doing Mexican waves… England past 200… and now a no ball to crown it as Root gets a life from stumping… This game is now in the same pointless zone as in the last 10 overs at Lord’s.

FOUR! Dragged down by Chahal and with the ball turning into Morgan, it had four written all over it. Morgan pulls and takes four to deep mid wicket.

After 34 overs,England 196/2 ( Joe Root 68 , Eoin Morgan (C) 64)
 

Kuldeep had Joe Root in some discomfort with a wrong’un outside off stump, but Root’s concentration isn’t going to break easily. Watches till the end to go back and defend. Three runs off Kuldeep’s over. 61 needed off 96.

After 33 overs,England 193/2 ( Joe Root 67 , Eoin Morgan (C) 62)

Doing it with a lot of ease these two. Swept Chahal for five singles in the over. Chahal has completed his 9th over. 64 needed off 102 balls.

After 32 overs,England 188/2 ( Joe Root 65 , Eoin Morgan (C) 59)

Slip and leg slip for Joe Root. He gets a brace with french cut and then he turns the strike over with a single to long on. Morgan playing Kuldeep with much more ease compared to how he batted at the start of his innings. Four runs off the over. England 69 away.

Kuldeep Yadav gets another go.

After 31 overs,England 184/2 ( Joe Root 62 , Eoin Morgan (C) 58)

Chahal bowls his 8th over of the match. Still a leg slip in position for Morgan. After first three balls, he changes his angle to go round the wicket. Morgan flicks it for a single to deep mid wicket. Root pulls to deep square for one.

Chahal is called back into the attack.

After 30 overs,England 181/2 ( Joe Root 60 , Eoin Morgan (C) 57)

Don’t know if you would call that a drop or not. Thakur’s delivery down the leg side takes a tickle off Joe Root’s bat with the ball dipping on diving MS Dhoni. He just about gets there with the ball coming in contact with the ground, unable to get his mittens underneath to grasp it cleanly. Boundary off the first ball and couple of singles off the over, to make it 6 runs of the 30th over. England need 76 runs in 120 balls, still have 8 wickets in hand.

This is the ninth century stand between Joe Root and Eoin Morgan in ODIs. No other England pair has added more than five.

FOUR! Couple of bounces and into the fence! Thakur tries the short ball and was well-directed as well, but Morgan was up to the task, swivels and pulls for four to long leg.

After 29 overs,England 175/2 ( Joe Root 59 , Eoin Morgan (C) 52)
 

A tap to third man from Root brings the 100-run partnership. Pandya bowls a tidy over giving away just three singles but wicket is what India want. 82 runs required off 126 deliveries.

After 28 overs,England 172/2 ( Joe Root 58 , Eoin Morgan (C) 50)

Shardul Thakur continues. He is into his sixth over. The partnership between Root and Morgan is now worth 98. England need 85. Seven more from Thakur’s over. India’s shoulders start to drop as England continue their march.

FIFTY! The England ODI skipper raises his half-century off 58 balls. Struggled in the start of his innings, but once he overcame the initial phase, Morgan did play a perfect foil to Joe Root and then gradually started to play his strokes.

FOUR! Outside edge from Morgan and it runs down to third man fence. Not the best pieces of fielding by Bhuvneshwar Kumar at third man. Even Sourav Ganguly on air isn’t impressed.

After 27 overs,England 165/2 ( Joe Root 57 , Eoin Morgan (C) 43)
 

Root gets off strike with a single to deep cover. Hardik goes round the stumps to Eoin Morgan, who punches off the backfoot for a couple to deep extra cover. Three more singles off the last three balls.

Hardik Pandya into the attack.

Eoin Morgan and Joe Root now hold the record of adding most partnership runs for England in ODIs, going past Alastair Cook and Ian Bell’s tally of 2118 runs.

After 26 overs,England 159/2 ( Joe Root 55 , Eoin Morgan (C) 40)

England now need less than 100 runs and we are just an over into the second half of the hosts’ innings. India need a miracle from here on, seems unlikely otherwise. India’s winning record in ODIs under immense threat. Seven off Thakur’s over.

FOUR! Wide from Thakur and he was asking for trouble. Morgan slashes hard past backward point. England need exactly 100.

After 25 overs,England 152/2 ( Joe Root 54 , Eoin Morgan (C) 35)
 

At the halfway mark, England are far ahead in the match. Going still over 6 an over. Root slams a very good half-century. Morgan too working his way towards his fifty.

FOUR! Morgan skips down the wicket and bludgeons it down the ground, almost through Kuldeep, for a straight boundary. England go past 150.

FIFTY! Magnificent shot through covers for a boundary to bring his 29th ODI half century. Tremendous innings from Root. Needs to guide England to position of certainty and close the game out.

After 24 overs,England 143/2 ( Joe Root 49 , Eoin Morgan (C) 31)

Morgan drills the cover drive only to find the fielder, who can half stop it as the batsmen cross for a single. Thakur follows it up with a bumper that is called wide for height. Another short ball to follow as Root pulls it for a single. Morgan taps it a little away to the right of gully for one. Root moves to 49 with another single on the offside. Couple of dots to end the over.

Shardul Thakur is brought back into the attack

0-16 from 2 overs for Raina… poor shot to add earlier… he has had a less than useful game here… it makes for some pondering for India. No number four, number five is proving to be a problem area as well. India need a batsman who can bowl a bit… and influence the game with both. Raina, Jadhav the contenders… but you just get the feeling that the selectors need to look at another option.

After 23 overs,England 138/2 ( Joe Root 47 , Eoin Morgan (C) 29)

Kuldeep tries a different angle. He begins the spell going round the wicket. The four is the only scoring shot of the over, after the ton in the second ODI, Root is on his way to a fine half-century.

Least innings to 3000 ODI runs as a captain:

49 – Virat Kohli 
60 – AB de Villiers 
70 – MS Dhoni 
74 – Sourav Ganguly 
80 – EOIN MORGAN*

FOUR! Seeing the tossed up delivery that was pitched, Joe Root moves across his stumps and plays the sweep behind the square leg. No fielders guarding that area.

Kuldeep is back on!

After 22 overs,England 134/2 ( Joe Root 43 , Eoin Morgan (C) 29)

This is such sensible batting by Root and Morgan. They have targetted their bowlers and after the start they recieved, they can afford to play out Chahal. The wristspinner completes his 7th over as Root and Morgan take three singles off the over.

Five overs when Chahal-Yadav tightened the noose…. but a flurry of boundaries have broken the shackles again. Root has played Kuldeep masterfully… They have found the key to contend with wrist spin… England have a tight grip on this contest now. Looking tough for India from here.

After 21 overs,England 131/2 ( Joe Root 41 , Eoin Morgan (C) 28)

Morgan attacks Raina and takes him couple of fours in the over. 10 runs coming off the over. Morgan too finding his rhythm now. Fifty run stand between these two. 126 more needed.

FOUR! Back-to-back boundaries from Morgan. This was a flat hit from Morgan, not too far away from the cover fielder but once he got it past him, it was always four.

FOUR! Wonderfully executed inside out shot from Eoin Morgan.  Superb hand eye coordination to as opens up a little to get it to cover fence.

After 20 overs,England 121/2 ( Joe Root 40 , Eoin Morgan (C) 19)

Chahal continues after drinks. Into his sixth over now. Tries to fire a couple of deliveries after flighting the first few balls. Root turns the strike with a single to sweeper cover. Morgan will keep strike with one run to long off, off the last delivery

After 19 overs,England 119/2 ( Joe Root 39 , Eoin Morgan (C) 18)

The four of the final ball ruined the first five tidy deliveries from Raina. Six runs coming off his first over. Players will take the drinks break, but problems aplenty for Virat Kohli, the match and the series quickly slipping away. England 138 runs away, 186 balls remaining.

FOUR! Short ball and pulled away from Morgan to mid wicket fence. He didn’t get a bad delivery for some while, but with the part-timer operating one bad ball was expected.

Suresh Raina is into the attack.

After 18 overs,England 113/2 ( Joe Root 38 , Eoin Morgan (C) 13)

Yuzi continues to have Morgan in discomfort as the English captain tries to break out of the jail. Chahal adjusts well when he sees Morgan charge down the wicket. He switches back to bowling over the wicket and after tying him down at one end for five deliveries. Morgan works one off his hips for a single off the final ball.

After 17 overs,England 112/2 ( Joe Root 38 , Eoin Morgan (C) 12)

Without much risk, England take 4 more runs off Kuldeep’s 4th over. Kuldeep ends the over with a flaoter that finishes as a full toss and Root takes a brace off the final ball.

After 16 overs,England 108/2 ( Joe Root 35 , Eoin Morgan (C) 11)
 

Morgan keeps playing the reverse and India have placed a fielder for that shot in the deep. Virat still attacking with a slip and leg slip against Morgan as Chahal goes round the stumps. Root is looking very solid in the middle. 5 runs off the over.

After 15 overs,England 103/2 ( Joe Root 31 , Eoin Morgan (C) 10)

Overthrow gives England two extra runs, but rather than the throw, it was the bowler, Kuldeep’s error that cost the extra runs. Failed to collect the throw from the deep as it was too close to the stumps and he moved away fearing a deflection, but the ball missed the stumps and no one was backing up. Morgan brings out the reverse sweep past the first slip to collect three runs to third man fence. England go past 100 in the 15th over.

After 14 overs,England 96/2 ( Joe Root 27 , Eoin Morgan (C) 7)

England inching towards the 100-run mark. In-form Joe Root has decided not to allow the spinners to settle in. He takes a bit of risk to  collect a boundary. Chahal bowled a good over, tossing the ball outside off stump, always a good line to bowl.

FOUR! After Chahal was building pressure with three good dots. Root decides to plant his foot forward and take the ball on full to sweep it to mid wicket for a boundary.

After 13 overs,England 91/2 ( Joe Root 22 , Eoin Morgan (C) 7)

India’s fielding has dropped a notch in this game as well. Root with the boundary in the over. England are going exactly at 7 runs an over. They need 166 more with 37 overs in hand.

FOUR! Slightly overpitched by Kuldeep and Joe Root gets forward and drives, but Pandya at short cover should have done better.  Didn’t get his body behind and was slow of the blocks as he fails to stop the ball and it runs to the fence.

After 12 overs,England 85/2 ( Joe Root 17 , Eoin Morgan (C) 6)

Another leg before shout against Morgan after he missed a leg break, but perhaps the ball was turning just a lot and would have missed the leg stump. Single off the final ball as Morgan will retain strike. No boundary off the over, well its been a while since that happened.

After 11 overs,England 84/2 ( Joe Root 17 , Eoin Morgan (C) 5)

The flow of boundaries, simply doesn’t stop. Kuldeep Yadav concedes six off his first over. Root is looking good in the middle. Morgan not so much.

FOUR! Cannot bowl that short. Joe Root had so much time on his hands to move around in the crease to select a scoring area and he pulls it to square leg fence.

Kuldeep Yadav has been brought back into the attack

First powerplay comparison:

India : 32-1
England : 78-2 

The only way to win the game for India is to bowl out England from this position.

After 10 overs,England 78/2 ( Joe Root 12 , Eoin Morgan (C) 4)

MS Dhoni with some smart work ends Vince’s stay in the middle. India have much-needed second wicket. Virat rightly attacks the new man Eoin Morgan with a slip and leg spin in position. An lbw shout against Morgan, but was probably going high. Morgan gets off the mark with a boundary.

FOUR! Short from Chahal and Eoin Morgan had all the time in the world to rock back into his crease and slap it through covers for a boundary.

Superb run out in the first innings and another run out in the second innings… both sides’ top order has been rocked by run outs. Vince is gone in the first spin over by Chahal… and just as I type that… he rips one into Morgan… boy this is going to be some game if India can strangle the run-rate.

OUT! Spinner comes into the attack and India have a wicket, though the bowler isn’t going to be credited with the wicket. A quick single has resulted in James Vince’s wicket. Root tapped it on the onside and ran for the single. Not the best of the throws, but the man MS Dhoni with his nifty glovework, where he tumbles over the stumps to collect the ill-directed throw and in the same motion breaks the stumps, to catch Vince centimeters short of his crease. Big wicket for India!

J Vince run out H Pandya 27 (27)

Yuzvendra Chahal into the attack in the 9th over.

After 9 overs,England 74/1 ( James Vince 27 , Joe Root 12)

Clear strategy from England batsmen. Taking the game away before the Indian spinners can pull it back. Seven runs off Thakur’s over. Virat needs wickets.

FOUR! Extremely well-controlled pull from Root to collect a boundary behind square.

You would think Bairstow’s dismissal would put brakes on England’s batting… but some shoddy bowling from India since that wicket. Pandya has been poor in each of the first spells he has bowled in this series.

After 8 overs,England 67/1 ( James Vince 26 , Joe Root 6)
 

England going over 8 runs an over. Vince with two boundaries in the over. It is as though it has become a norm. Some fabulous strokeplay on display. Surely Virat needs to bring in the spinners into play before England run away with it.

FOUR! Drifted on the pads by Kumar and Vince clips it square leg fence for a boundary.

FOUR! Another boundary. Vince with a superbly punch through the covers for four.

After 7 overs,England 57/1 ( James Vince 17 , Joe Root 5)

England have cantered past 50 in the 7th over. Exactly 200 runs required and still 43 overs to go. Couple of boundaries in the over, the second came as a leg bye beating the tumbling MSD behind the wickets. The Indian batsmen made the pitch look difficult and here English are simply toying with Indian bowling.

FOUR! Another top shot! This time from the bat of Joe Root. Back of a length by Thakur and Root punches it through cover point.

After 6 overs,England 49/1 ( James Vince 17 , Joe Root 1)

Change of ends for Kumar, also the wicket of Bairstow would have tempted Kohli to bring back Kumar. Miscommunication between Vince and Root almost ended up in the run out. The throw from mid on was not the right end and Vince ended just about making his ground. Boundaries continue to flow, albeit of the inside edge as England fly to 49 off the first six.

FOUR! Lucky! Inside edge runs down to fine leg fence off Vince’s bat. Kumar certainly not with the rub of green.

After 5 overs,England 43/1 ( James Vince 12 , Joe Root 0)

Bowling change working for India! The dangerous Jonny Bairstow is back in the hut after a quickfire innings. Centurion from the last game Joe Root walks in at number 3.

OUT! And gone! Against the run of play. Bairstow was looking to hit this one through mid wicket, but the ball just stopped a touch and he couldn’t direct it into the gap. Hit it much straighter than he would have liked. Finds Raina at mid on and India breathe a sigh of relief! What a fiery innings from Bairstow.

c S Raina b S Thakur 30 (13)

FOUR! Oh dear! Bowling change also not stemming the flow of boundaries. Strays in line and Vince flicks it off his legs past short fine leg fielder.

Shardul Thakur introduced into the attack

After 4 overs,England 38/0 ( James Vince 7 , Jonny Bairstow 30)

Bairstow is on fire! He has blazed his way to 30. Three boundaries coming off Pandya’s over. India bleeding runs at the moment and they do not have many in the bank.

Jonny Bairstow’s ODI career:

From September, 2011 to August, 2017: Zero tons 
From September, 2017 to today: Six tons 

He has got the start once again today.

FOUR! Runs coming in boundaries for England. Bad line from Pandya and Bairstow tucks it around the corner for another four.

FOUR! Skillful batting this from Bairstow. Not the best of the deliveries from Pandya. It was full from Pandya and Bairstow creams it through covers.

FOUR! This is high quality batting from Jonny Bairstow! On the middle stump from Pandya and he pumps it through mid wicket.

Bairstow teeing off… Well he isn’t hitting out really but some gorgeous timing on display here… Has endured England get off to a good start that doesn’t hamper them against spin. Unlike India who were tied down.

After 3 overs,England 23/0 ( James Vince 5 , Jonny Bairstow 17)

Expensive over from Bhuvi. Bairstow hammered four boundaries in an over. He is enjoying his good run with the bat.

FOUR! Make that the fourth boundary off the over! Bairstow is fine form. Just a little wide and there was enough room for Baitstow to slice it past point

FOUR! Overpitched from Bhuvi and Bairstow has simply thrashed this one past mid off. Third boundary off the over!

Bhuvneshwar Kumar has taken only two wickets from 34 overs in 2018 in ODIs. He is a strike bowler for India and India need him desperately to come up with a good performance today.

FOUR! Another loosener from Kumar. Again a touch short and into Bairstow and Bairstow pulls it handsomely for a boundary.

FOUR! Width on offer, slightly short in length from Kumar and Bairstow slaps it through cover point for his first boundary.

After 2 overs,England 7/0 ( James Vince 5 , Jonny Bairstow 1)

Very good first over by Hardik Pandya. Bowling a notch quicker than he bowls. Just couple of quick singles in the over, the one Vince took had an element of risk involved but Kuldeep from mid on doesn’t attack the bowl quickly.

Hardik Pandya will bowl from the other end.

After 1 overs,England 5/0 ( James Vince 4 , Jonny Bairstow 0)

Kumar comes back well after the loosener first up. Vince gets off the mark with a boundary. Bhuvi shapes few away after bringing couple of deliveries back in. Five off the first over.

FOUR! Kumar starts off with a gift, doesn’t matter if Vince is facing his first ball of the series. He dispatches it through covers.

James Vince, Jonny Bairstow begin chase, Bhuvneshwar Kumar to bowl the first over.

Can Kuldeep, Chahal and probably Raina spin India to series victory?

Overall, disappointing batting by India. Pitch looked good for apprx 300. To defend 256 will need something special from bowlers

— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) July 17, 2018

The lowest total defended at Leeds in ODIs is 165, defended by England against Pakistan in 1979. If India defend 256 today then it will be the lowest total defended at the venue since 1984.

After 50 overs,India 256/8 ( Shardul Thakur 22 , )

India finish with 256 on the scoreboard, thanks to Shardul Thakur who smashed 22 off 13, on a pitch where a better batsman, MS Dhoni scored 42 off 66 balls. India have huffed and puffed to this score and now the bowlers will have to deliver if India are to win this series.

OUT! Bhuvneshwar Kumar hits it in between deep midwicket and long-on but the ball did not have enough legs and Moeen Ali caught it easily running in from deep mid-wicket. Bhuvneshwar c Bairstow b Willey 21(35)

Two sixes from Thakur… serious hitting this… worth their weight in gold as India crossed 250 which was looking unlikely at a point… should merit atleast three ODI chances for him those sixes…

Only two Indian players have hit a six in this ODI series – Rohit Sharma and Shardul Thakur.

After 49 overs,India 251/7 ( Bhuvneshwar Kumar 19 , Shardul Thakur 19)

Stokes back on. Six on the first ball and then a superb save from Plunkett on the long-on boundary, stopping the ball from going to six. But Shardul hit another on the second last ball to take Indian total beyond 250. What a gem of an innings from Thakur. 17 from the over.

SIX! Pelted by Shardul, short of length from Stokes and Shardul rocks on back foot and pulls it over the deep square leg for a maximum. Gold, absolute gold at this stage.

SIX! What a way to welcome Stokes back into the attack. Shardul gets under the length ball and hits it over the deep mid-wicket for a maximum. First six for India in two games.

Stokes is back on.

After 48 overs,India 234/7 ( Bhuvneshwar Kumar 19 , Shardul Thakur 3)

Willey comes back to bowl and got hit for a boundary on the very first ball by Bhuvneshwar who has taken upon himself to take India to a fighting total. After all, he is the bowler and needs something to defend. 250 should be the target for these two in the middle.

FOUR! Creativity from Bhuvi, as he walks across and scoops the fullish delivery to fine leg and got a boundary.

Willey continues.

After 47 overs,India 224/7 ( Bhuvneshwar Kumar 11 , Shardul Thakur 1)

Wood completes the spell and what a day he has had. He ends with figures of 1 for 30. What a match to deliver the goods. India bowlers now face last four overs and it could act as a good homework to see how to go about when they come out to bowl and defend total. Just 2 runs from the last over.

MS Dhoni’s SR in his last five ODI innings (Min. 50 balls faced)

63.64, 62.71, 74.71, 89.77, 77.90 

He has not gone past 90 even once.

Wood to bowl the final over of his spell.

After 46 overs,India 222/7 ( Bhuvneshwar Kumar 10 , Shardul Thakur 1)

Willey returns into the attack. He has removed Dhoni and what a time to do that. This was the time when India needed to go big. India, it seemed were targetting 250 but even that looks bleak now. The question is whether how much will be good enough now?

42 off 66 balls… Dhoni is gone… no boos today… just claps and cheers as he walks off. He has given India a chance… but the lower order needs to be careful… Losing Ashwin and Jadeja might have looked good in terms of wrist spin but it has given India a very long tail.

Shardul Thakur, right handed bat, comes to the crease

OUT! Willey moves it away from Dhoni, who was trying to tap it third-man and get a single, but ended up giving a simple catch to Jos Buttler behind the stumps. Dhoni c Buttler b Willey 42(66)

Partnership 23 off 39 balls… Bhuvi hasn’t had the best of innings, but atleast he is there… 8 off 21 balls. This is the kind of support Dhoni missed at the other end at Lord’s. It allows him (or any other finisher in this position) to take the innings deep… it could well be the difference between 220 and 250.

David Willey replaces Ben Stokes.

After 45 overs,India 217/6 ( MS Dhoni (W) 40 , Bhuvneshwar Kumar 8)

Wood continues. Bhuvneshwar Kumar it seems has been told to just rotate the strike and not take any risk whatsoever. Dhoni too still happy to not take any risk and keep the wickets intact. Think the two will go big from the next over. Five more overs to go. 3 from this over.

Wood continues.

After 44 overs,India 214/6 ( MS Dhoni (W) 39 , Bhuvneshwar Kumar 7)

Stokes continues. Dhoni now slowly picking the run-rate. One boundary again has come in this over. He is 39 off 60 balls, this is exactly how he played the last time around but this is a much more important innings from him as the situation is different.

FOUR! Short of length, Dhoni waited for the ball and cleverly picked the spot and manoeuvred it for four to deep square leg.

After 43 overs,India 208/6 ( MS Dhoni (W) 34 , Bhuvneshwar Kumar 6)

Wood continues. Dhoni finally hits a boundary. The partnership between Dhoni and Bhuvi is 13 off 29 balls and the run-scoring now needs a picking. India needs to get at least one four per over. 7 runs from the last over.

FOUR! Short ball and here comes the power shot from Dhoni as he pulls it away to get four runs for his side.

Wood continues.

After 42 overs,India 201/6 ( MS Dhoni (W) 28 , Bhuvneshwar Kumar 5)

Stokes continues. India have crossed the 200 run-mark. Dhoni still playing the waiting game. It is to be seen when he starts the hitting game and whether he is able to hit any. Just 8 overs left now and just 2 runs have come from this over. What is the plan, India?

Stokes continues.

After 41 overs,India 199/6 ( MS Dhoni (W) 28 , Bhuvneshwar Kumar 4)

Wood continues. Starts the over with fullish length and the shifts to back of the length deliveries. India one run short of reaching 200. 3 runs from this over. Time begins with India start scoring more than these.

The average score on this pitch in the last five years is 298. India are still way behind. 10 overs left!

Wood continues.

After 40 overs,India 196/6 ( MS Dhoni (W) 27 , Bhuvneshwar Kumar 2)

Ben Stokes back on. Dhoni is still not comfortable at the crease despite playing 48 balls. Bhuvneshwar is not the best batsman in this line-up but he can fight well. The talks of getting to 300 is out of question now. England at the top.  Just one run from the over.

One of those English days that the grey clouds didn’t rain at all… threat has now blown away replaced by clear sunshine… It will bake the pitch further which is already taking some turn… Last recognised partnership worth 36 off 43… 

And just as I type that… Mark Wood with a stunning inswinger to send Pandya back… India need 250 here. Nothing less!

Ben Stokes brought back into the attack.

After 39 overs,India 195/6 ( MS Dhoni (W) 27 , Bhuvneshwar Kumar 1)

Mark Wood comes back into the attack and straightaway delivers, sends Pandya back to the dressing room. He bowled exactly same ball to Dhoni on the last ball of the over, which beat him all ends up. Testing time for India with Bhuvneshwar Kumar in to bat. 3 from the over and a wicket.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar, right handed bat, comes to the crease

OUT! Superb stuff from Wood, cuts Hardik into half, ball takes the edge off his bat and keeper Buttler does not make a mistake behind the stumps. Hardik Pandya c Buttler b Mark Wood 21(21)

Mark Wood is back on.

After 38 overs,India 192/5 ( MS Dhoni (W) 27 , Hardik Pandya 19)

Last over of spin comes to end and India should take a sigh of relief. But cannot rest yet. They need to take the total nar the 300 run-mark. Anything less than that would make England favourites in the game. Just 2 runs from the over and let’s see how Pandya-Dhoni go about in this innings from now on

Moeen Ali continues

After 37 overs,India 190/5 ( MS Dhoni (W) 26 , Hardik Pandya 18)

Rashid continues. Dhoni looked to come down the wicket on the first ball but went on defensive. Hardik took the calculated risk on the second last ball of the over to fetch a four, These boundaries are nothing less than gold against the spinners. 9 from the over.

FOUR! Tossed up by Rashid, Hardik picks it on front foot and hits is on left of long-off where Plunkett makes a diving effort but could not stop the ball from going to four.

After 36 overs,India 181/5 ( MS Dhoni (W) 25 , Hardik Pandya 10)

Moeen Ali continues. Three more overs of spin left and both Pandya, Dhoni should look to play them out and wait for the spinners to do the quick run-scoring. Dhoni is doing just that, not showing too much interest in bowls pitched outside the off stump. 5 from the over.

Moeen Ali continues.

After 35 overs,India 176/5 ( MS Dhoni (W) 23 , Hardik Pandya 9)

Rashid continues. Pandya and Dhoni are dealing in singles and this is not a bad plan, considering the stage of the game. Just 3 from the over.

Rashid continues.

After 34 overs,India 173/5 ( MS Dhoni (W) 21 , Hardik Pandya 8)

Moeen Ali continues. Pandya and Dhoni need to carry on from here till the 50th over if India expects to take the total to a fighting one. First target, of course, should be the 200 run-mark. Singles and doubles should be the plan and not the big shots. 5 runs from the over.

Moeen Ali continues.

After 33 overs,India 168/5 ( MS Dhoni (W) 19 , Hardik Pandya 5)

Rashid continues. He is looking threatening. India should be trying to save wickets rather than go for big shots. Not the ideal position to be in to try and score big runs.

FOUR! The balls takes the inside edge and travels to third man boundary for four through the legs of keeper Buttler.

After 32 overs,India 162/5 ( MS Dhoni (W) 18 , Hardik Pandya 0)

Moeen Ali continues and he almost got rid of MS Dhoni. Ali trapped him in front of the stumps, umpire Oxenford raised the finger after a huge appeal but DRS saves MS as the replay showed that the ball was missing the stumps.

More drama… DRS review from Dhoni and the ball is missing… Spin is certainly getting to be a factor here. The Indian skipper might have been right all along.

Raina has picked out the leg slip… poor stroke really and England have India at the neck… 158/5… ball is turning but anything less than 280-300 is not going to be enough.. and that is just a guess… 

India’s much maligned late order needs a day in the sun…

FOUR! Flighted ball and Dhoni powers it through the left of mid-off for a boundary

Moeen Ali continues.

This is the first Virat Kohli has got out to a spinner in three consecutive ODI innings being an Indian captain.

After 31 overs,India 158/5 ( MS Dhoni (W) 14 , )

Rashid continues and England has got the key wicket. Kohli has been sent back by this peach of a delivery from Rashid. He could not do anything about it. Dhoni, however, has a lot to do in this match. He has not looked good enough against spin. Raina joined him and soon said bye. Rashid has dented India with two wickets in over over. Over to you, MSD!

OUT! Not the best of deliveries, on the leg stump line to Raina, who tries to put it to mid-wicket but the ball takes the inside edge, touches his pads and goes to leg slip where Joe Root catches it diving forward.India in big trouble here. Raina c Root b Adil Rashid 1(4)

Ripper… Virat’s eyes light up but only because he has been bowled… Superb delivery and is that the first sight of pitch doing something? Virat said at the toss it will break up… 

But forget that… India in some bother here… 156/4… 20 overs to go. This will unravel quickly. India need a partnership

Suresh Raina, left handed bat, comes to the crease

Stunned and how!?

“Look at his face... just LOOK at his face!” #engvind (with apologies to Barry Davies) pic.twitter.com/QqRRkoZbou

— Andrew Miller (@miller_cricket) July 17, 2018

OUT! Absolute ripper of a delivery from Rashid, picthes on middle stump line and cuts away just enough to bamboozle Kohli and disturb the off stump. Kohli stood there, thinking what just happened off the pitch. A great sight if you are a leg spinner. Kohli b Adil Rashid 71

Rashid continues.

After 30 overs,India 156/3 ( Virat Kohli (C) 71 , MS Dhoni (W) 13)

Moeen Ali continues and finally some relief for Dhoni and India. Two fours off the over, first by Dhoni and then Kohli. This should call for change in bowling. Virat has moved now into his 70s.

FOUR! Kohli comes forward, Moeen Ali pulls back the length, goes again on back foot and pelts it for a boundary. Great use of feet from him.

FOUR! Sweep shot comes to Dhoni’s rescue as the ball races away to deep square leg boundary for four.

Moeen Ali continues

After 29 overs,India 146/3 ( Virat Kohli (C) 66 , MS Dhoni (W) 8)

Rashid continues. MS Dhoni is struggling and Virat Kohli needs to acknowledge this. This is a very crucial stage of the game where India cannot lose wicket and also cannot let the run-scoring rate go down severely. Just 2 runs from the over and this might put more pressure on Kohli.

Rashid continues

After 28 overs,India 144/3 ( Virat Kohli (C) 65 , MS Dhoni (W) 7)

Moeen Ali continues. Dhoni yet again looking little out of sorts, trying to come out to the spinner and play it for singles. He is looking to keep the scoreboard ticking but is not finding the right areas and shot to do that. Just 3 from the over.

Moeen Ali continues.

After 27 overs,India 141/3 ( Virat Kohli (C) 64 , MS Dhoni (W) 5)

Rashid continues. Kohli hits a boundary on the first ball and then looks to singles. Now that Dhoni is at the other end, we might see the pair running hard between the wickets. Good over as India collect 9 runs off it.

FOUR! Kohli carries on, Rashid pitches it a tad short and Kohli rocks back and smashes it four to square of fine leg.

After 26 overs,India 132/3 ( Virat Kohli (C) 57 , MS Dhoni (W) 4)

MS Dhoni comes in to bat and Moeen Ali has been introduced into the attack straightaway. Ali test Dhoni in the second ODI. The battle is on here again. 4 from the over.

Moeen Ali replaces Plunkett