4.5 overs (0 Run) Pitched up and on middle, Virat Kohli clips it straight to short mid-wicket.
4.4 overs (0 Run) Oh..beauty! David Willey lands this on a hard length and around off, goes with the angle and with some extra bounce, Virat Kohli gets surprised by it as he tries to keep it out but gets beaten on the outside edge as Jos Buttler collects near his chest.
4.3 overs (0 Run) Length again and around leg, Virat Kohli tucks it towards short mid-wicket.
4.2 overs (1 Run) On a length and around middle, Rohit Sharma flicks it through square leg for a single.
4.1 overs (0 Run) Fuller and on off, Rohit Sharma pushes it towards covers.
Virat Kohli walks in at number 3.
3.6 overs (0 Run) OUT! BOWLED’EM! Chris Woakes has silenced Lucknow! He continues with his fuller length and serves this on middle and off, this one lands and nips back in sharply, Shubman Gill stays there and looks to drive it but plays completely down the wrong line and misses as the ball goes through between the huge gap between bat and pad to shatter the stumps. India lose their first wicket and England have something to celebrate here.
3.5 overs (2 Runs) Fullish again and on the pads, Shubman Gill nudges it towards deep backward square leg for a brace.
3.4 overs (0 Run) Pitched up, on off, Shubman Gill defends it on the front foot.
3.3 overs (0 Run) An appeal for caught behind, but turned down! Chris Woakes lands this on a hard length and around leg, angling in, Shubman Gill uses his feet to play at it but gets cramped and misses as the ball goes past the inside edge to the keeper where Jos Buttler collects it. However, England decides against the review and rightly so as it seemed to flick the thigh pad.
3.2 overs (0 Run) Touch fuller and on off, Shubman Gill strides forward and taps it towards point.
3.1 overs (2 Runs) This is on a good length and around leg, Shubman Gill flicks it in front of deep square leg for a couple of runs.
2.6 overs (6 Runs) SIX! WOW! 18 runs off the over! David Willey pitches this one up and around middle, Rohit Sharma this time skips down the track and smokes it over the long on fence for another maximum.
2.5 overs (1 Run) Length again and around off, Shubman Gill steers it through point for a run.
2.4 overs (1 Run) On a length and around leg, Rohit Sharma clips it through backward square leg for a single.
2.3 overs (6 Runs) SIX! BANG! Classic Rohit Sharma! David Willey bangs this short and around middle, sits up nicely this one, Rohit Sharma picks up the early and hammers it over the deep mid-wicket fence for a biggie.
2.2 overs (4 Runs) FOUR! Up and over! Rohit Sharma breaks the shackles! This is full again from Willey, on off, Rohit Sharma skips down the track to loft it away but his bat turns in his hands. However, he generates enough power to send it over mid on for a boundary.
2.1 overs (0 Run) David Willey serves this full and on middle, swinging in, Rohit Sharma watches it through and jams it out towards short covers.
1.6 overs (0 Run) Overpitched and on off again, Shubman Gill drills it hard but straight to short covers.
1.5 overs (0 Run) Full again and outside off, shaping away, Shubman Gill offers no shot at it.
1.4 overs (0 Run) Almost dragged on! Chris Woakes serves this one full and on off, Shubman Gill looks to drive but gets an inside edge onto his pads as the ball goes nowhere.
1.3 overs (4 Runs) FOUR! India are finally underway! Chris Woakes lands this back of a length and around off, Shubman Gill gets on top of the bounce well and punches it with sweet timing through covers for a boundary.
1.2 overs (0 Run) This is on a hard length and around middle, nips back in sharply, Shubman Gill gets cramped for room as he looks to work it away and misses to get hit on the thigh pads.
1.1 overs (0 Run) Chris Woakes begins with a good-length delivery, outside off, keeps low, Shubman Gill leaves it alone as the ball dies down to the keeper.
Chris Woakes to take the other new ball.
0.6 over (0 Run) A maiden over then! David Willey pulls his length back this time, on the sixth stump line, goes across once more, Rohit Sharma looks to defend but the ball zips past the outside edge to the keeper.
0.5 over (0 Run) Five dots now! This is a bit fuller and on off, Rohit Sharma uses his feet and knocks it towards mid off.
0.4 over (0 Run) Short of a length and around off, Rohit Sharma dabs it wide of point where the fielder dives to his left to save the single.
0.3 over (0 Run) BEATEN! David Willey goes back to his good length again, outside off, angling away too, Rohit Sharma has a poke at it again but gets beaten on the outside edge again. Good stuff from Willey!
0.2 over (0 Run) Back of a length and on off again, Rohit Sharma nudges it towards wide of mid on and denies the run.
0.1 over (0 Run) A beauty to start with! David Willey lands this on a good length and around off, angling away, Rohit Sharma plays for the swing in but gets beaten on the outside edge.
Done with the pre-match formalities and it is now time to get the play underway. The umpires are out in the middle and the England players stride out to take their places on the field as well. Skipper Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill will open the innings for India as usual. David Willey has the new ball in hand and will look to get it swinging early on. Just the one slip in place. Let’s go…
We are minutes away from the start of this highly-anticipated clash but first, the two sets of players will line up for their respective national anthems. It will be the national anthem of England first, followed by the Indian national anthem.
Rohit Sharma, the captain of India says that they would have batted first as well. Adds that the pitch looks good and it should play well for all 100 overs. Tells that it is always nice to have a break after a hectic schedule and it is good to come back to business with a fresh mind. Informs they are unchanged.
Jos Buttler, the skipper of England says that they will bowl first and it is a gut decision and hopefully today is the day they play their best cricket. Adds that they haven’t played at their best and against India in a World Cup is a special occasion and will hope to rise up to the occasion. Mentions that whatever they have done first, they haven’t been able to do it well and will look to give it their all. Ends by informing that they are going with the same team from the previous game.
India (Unchanged Playing XI) – Rohit Sharma (C), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (WK), Suryakumar Yadav, Ravindra Jadeja, Mohammed Shami, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj.
England (Unchanged Playing XI) – Jonny Bairstow, Dawid Malan, Joe Root, Ben Stokes, Jos Buttler (C/WK), Liam Livingstone, Moeen Ali, Chris Woakes, David Willey, Adil Rashid, Mark Wood
TOSS – Jos Buttler calls it right and England have elected to BOWL first.
PITCH REPORT – Ravi Shastri and Naseer Hussain are pitchside. Ravi says that the pitch looks like that of the Wankhede Stadium from the 1980s and 90s but adds that there is wear and tear and there are patches that will help the spinners. Says that it is a drier pitch than usual and will aid the spinners. Naseer says that it will certainly spin but when and how much, that is to be seen. Adds that England will prefer the ball to spin a lot as India are at their best when the track turns a bit but when it turns a lot, England can exploit it. Ravi adds that it won’t be easy to get Ravichandran Ashwin directly into the line-up.
England, on the other hand, haven’t performed anywhere near like the holders of the trophy and with only one win, their chances of making it to the semis are all but over. However, not long before they were the top side in limited overs cricket and scared other teams with their attacking style of play but that has completely backfired here. They still have world-class players like Joe Root, Jonny Bairstow, Jos Buttler, and Liam Livingstone and so on but no one has performed to their full potential. They will hope that all the criticism get them fired up and they put up a stern challenge to the hosts. Mark Wood will be key with the ball because this is his home ground as he plays for Lucknow in the Indian T20 League but he will obviously need support from the others as well to get the win. Stay tuned for toss and other updates.
India have been by far the best team in this World Cup and it is going to take something really special to go past them. The Rohit-Kohli masterclasses are on show almost every game while youngsters Shubman Gill and Shreyas Iyer are doing their job effectively as well. Their bowling also have been amazing with Kuldeep Yadav and Ravindra Jadeja forming a strong partnership while Jasprit Bumrah has troubled the batters at all phases of the game. Mohammed Shami finally got his chance in the last match against the Kiwis and ended up with a five-wicket haul. Their bench strength is also really good and if they want an extra spinner against the English batters, they always have the option of Ravichandran Ashwin. The current form suggests that they should be able to win this one but they are smart enough not to take any opponents lightly and just continue to do the simple things right and the results will follow.
Hello and a warm welcome folks! The Men in Blue are back in action in the World Cup and this time they will be taking on the defending champions England at the Ekana Sports City in Lucknow. India are the only unbeaten team in this tournament and will look to maintain while the Englishmen will hope to make a statement and save some pride.
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4.6 overs (0 Run) Another full delivery, on off, Virat Kohli drills it towards mid off this time.