England going well in the second ODI (how often can you say that!). Chasing 337 they're 100/0 off 16.
England were cruising at 285/1, then Stokes (99) and Bairstow (124) out in successive overs. Malan and Buttler batting, need 50 off 14 overs.
the required run rate has dropped very nicely. stokes just had a mad spell. england just taken 48 off two overs. but wickets. 4 down...
malan's calm. he should keep one end going, and if he can keep strike we should be okay. 42 off 12 overs, 3.50 per over.
Aye, I felt sorry for that lad Yadav who got carted for 3 successive 6's by Stokes. Then he dropped a (tough) catch in the next over. He looked distraught!
Outstanding innings from Stokes, power hitting at its best. Bairstow and Roy laid another great platform with yet another century opening stand. Nice cameo from Livingstone at the end to secure the win, he’s another great talent that will push Billings for a regular place in this side.
Billings is only in because Root was rested. Stokes was moved up to play Joe's role. Dont forget Malan (top ranked t20 batsman in the world, who if he got the chance would probably be more suited to the 50 over game. With our all out attack from the start strategy, in reality he's maybe too similar to Root, but not quite as good (and Root's spin bowling will be a bonus in India). We do have a deep squad now. just need to fine tune and identify everyone's role for the world cup. We are still undecided re who is 'the finisher') Talking about squad depth though, India's is really frightening. These are the two teams everyone else will have to beat
That showed just how destructive England can be, on their day they can beat anyone. I'm pleased for Bairstow, another good inning from him, and Stokes plays the game as if he is from a totally different planet.
India will be relieved to have won that, their performance was a bit up and down today. At one point they looked like posting 375+ but they just seemed to go of the boil in the last 10 overs. India bowled well and had us on the ropes at one point but a combination of dropped catches (5 I think?) and spirited batting by Curran left England needing 14 off the last over. Natarajan kept his head and bowled it really tight. Wood getting run out off the first ball of it didn't help either. Good game though.