India v England LIVE: T20 result and latest cricket reaction as Sharma blasts hosts to victory
England face the world champions in Brendon McCullum’s first match in charge of the white-ball side
England suffered a heavy defeat to India in the first of a five-match T20 series in Kolkata as Jos Buttler’s side paid for a subpar batting effort.
The captain was a lone ranger as the rest of his teammates succumbed to a scintillating spell of new-ball bowling from Arshdeep Singh and the wiles of India’s spin trio. A total of 132 all out was never likely to be enough at Eden Gardens with the outfield rapid, the surface true and dew descending - and so it proved as the hosts blasted to victory. Abhishek Sharma was the star, showing off his range of hitting with a 34-ball 79 that included eight sixes with Gus Atkinson taking particular punishment.
The match was England Test coach Brendon McCullum’s first in charge since taking the white ball reins. Yet more struggles against the turning ball for his side will be reason to fret both with the rest of the series to come and the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy, which begins on 19 February and will be held in Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates.
Re-live all of the action from Eden Gardens below:
India 23-0; Samson 23, Abhishek 0 (2 overs)
Yum! Sanju Samson is just so good for watch, and it really is perplexing that it took him so long to command a regular spot in this side. Gus Atkinson’s pace does not worry him, with a couple of steps down leaving him perfectly placed to steer him for six over cover with effortless ease.
Even better! Atkinson errs full, and he’s on-driven for a fourth boundary in the over.
Add four more, turned around the corner! 22 off the over - England are all over the place, minds and bodies whirring as India race out of the blocks.
India 9-0; Samson 9, Abhishek 0 (1.2 overs)
Out comes the sawdust with England fretting over the landing areas at either end. The delay doesn’t hinder Samson - that’s b-e-a-utiful from the opener, a drive on the up bisecting extra cover and mid off.
India 5-0; Samson 5, Abhishek 0 (1.1 over)
Gus Atkinson shares the new ball, and is immediately thrashed to the long leg fence, a telegraphed short ball comfortably played by Samson.
India 1-0; Samson 1, Abhishek 0 (1 over)
A short leg! Hurrah! England are on the attack, Jos Buttler bravely under the lid at boot hill with a slip in place, too.
It’s good from Jofra Archer, too, tucking up Sanju Samson - they’ll be teammates at Rajasthan Royals again in a few week’s time. A quick single to cover from the final ball prevents a maiden.
India require 133 for victory
Out to the middle come Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma. New ball wickets a must for England, you’d think, with the dew coming down.
Jofra Archer will have first use of the fresh one.
India require 133 for victory
Arshdeep, incidentally, is now India’s leading wicket taker in men’s T20 internationals, going past Yuzvendra Chahal. His 97 wickets have come in just about two and a half years; the great Pakistan all-rounder Shahid Afridi took 98 in a 12-year career. How the game has changed.
India require 133 for victory
Dear oh dear. A spritely enough start from England soon gave way to a muddle in the middle as India’s spinners showed their class. It was Arshdeep Singh, though, who set that up with an outstanding opening burst of left arm swing and seam, allowing Varun Chakravarthy and co. to go to work.
Jos Buttler’s 68 ensures that England have something on the board - but after the trials and tribulations of the Test team in India and Pakistan last year, one rather wonders whether Brendon McCullum has a solution for his side’s spin struggles.
England 132 all out (20 overs)
An attempt to scramble a bye from the last brings England’s innings to a fitting end. India require 133 for victory at Eden Gardens.
OUT! Archer ct. Yadav b Pandya 12 (England 130-9, 19.4 overs)
No such luck this time for Jofra - a slightly meatier connection brings about his demise with Surykumar Yadav trotting around from extra cover to take a simple catch.
Mark Wood has two balls to give it some humpty...