AHMEDABAD: Debutant Ishan Kishan and Skipper Virat Kohli hit half-centuries as India hammered England by seven wickets in the second Twenty20 international in Ahmedabad today (Sunday).
Chasing a moderate target of 165 runs, a blazing second-wicket stand of 94 between Kohli, who finished unbeaten on 73, and Kishan (56 off 32 balls) saw India romp home in 17.5 overs and level the five-match series at 1-1.
India did not have the best of starts in the chase as they lost KL Rahul in the opening over. Kishan, known for his attacking batting, made a formidable England attack look ordinary with his disdainful hitting.
Meanwhile, Virat Kohli was dropped on 10 by wicketkeeper Jos Buttler who failed to grab a flick down the leg side off Chris Jordan and the batsman made the most of the reprieve. Kishan, who was dropped on 40 by Ben Stokes, smashed Rashid for two successive sixes to pass 50 but departed in the same over.
Rishabh Pant made 26 off 13 balls with two fours and two sixes. Earlier, the Indian bowlers put up a disciplined effort to restrict England to 164 for six in 20 overs after Kohli opted to bowl.
Opener Jason Roy scored 46 and put on 63 for the second wicket with Dawid Malan (24). Roy missed out on another fifty after getting caught at deep square leg off Sundar.
Sundar struck again in his next over to claim Jonny Bairstow for 20 and medium-pacer Thakur cut short skipper Eoin Morgan’s stay after getting him caught on a slower delivery. Morgan made 28.
Ben Stokes hit 24 before falling to Thakur in the final over as India checked the scoring by giving away just 35 runs in the final five overs.
