Bairstow, Stokes blast England to win
Jonny Bairstow and Ben Stokes launched a six-hitting feast as England chased down 337 against India on a series-levelling win in the next one-day international in Friday with residence skipper Virat Kohli admitting: "We didn't have a chance".
Bairstow (124) and Stokes (99) placed on 175 for the next wicket and smashed 17 sixes between them simply because England romped real estate in 43.3 overs with six wickets to spare in Pune.
The three-match series is currently level at 1-1 with the decider on Sunday.
"It was many of the most amazing batting you'll see when chasing," India skipper Virat Kohli explained of the England onslaught.
"They totally blew us away throughout that partnership of Jonny and Ben Stokes. We didn't have even a chance throughout that partnership."
The left-handed Stokes, who hit 10 sixes in his 52-ball blitz, missed out on his hundred after staying caught behind off Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Bairstow fell to Prasidh Krishna, who also bowled stand-in-skipper Jos Buttler for a duck.
England lost three wickets for three runs, but Dawid Malan (16) and debutant Liam Livingstone (27) took the team house with an unbroken stand of 50.
It was England's fifth-highest ODI chase and their finest against India.
Bairstow, who was known as man of the match, led the charge, tearing in to the Indian attack with a 110-work opening stand with Jason Roy, who made 55.
'No fear'
Roy was run out for 55 found in a combination up with Bairstow, who then combined with Stokes to trump K.L. Rahul's 108 that helped India to 336-6 in 50 overs after being devote to bat first.
Bairstow reached his 11th ODI hundred in 95 balls with a six off Kuldeep Yadav, who likewise took a hammering from Stokes, the Durham left-hander hammering him for three successive sixes in a single over mainly because he raced from 50 to 99 in only 12 balls.
"Over the years, we've set big totals, we have chased big totals," stated Stokes. "We don't seriously fear too much to be honest."
Buttler echoed the views of regular captain Eoin Morgan, who was simply ruled out of the ultimate two ODIs with a good split webbing in his hand, about England's aggressive make of play.
"Delighted with the response of the people," said Buttler.
"We put in an excellent bowling overall performance to restrict India compared to that total. I am delighted that people continued to commit to the fashion you want to play our cricket."
Previously Rahul was involved in century stands with Kohli, who made 66, and then Rishabh Pant, who smashed a rapid 77.
Reece Topley repaid Shikhar Dhawan caught in slip for four and fellow swift Sam Curran got Rohit Sharma out for 25.
Kohli and Rahul placed on 121 for the next wicket to lay the foundations of India's challenging total.
Kohli, who was simply dropped on 35 by Buttler off Adil Rashid, completed his fifth fifty found in seven international innings before appearing finally caught by Buttler off Rashid.
Rahul, who made an unbeaten 62 on India's win in the opening game in Tuesday, reached his fifth ODI hundred.
He placed on 113 for the third wicket with Pant before he was caught off Tom Curran. His 114-ball knock included seven fours and two sixes.
Pant reached his fifty with a good six and smashed seven sixes found in his 40-ball blitz.
Hardik Pandya reach 35 off 16 balls as India finished with a flourish, scoring 126 runs from the previous 10 overs, however the effort had not been enough on a batting-friendly pitch.
Source: www.thedailystar.net
