Match Center

Right then, another game is done and dusted in the 2023 Cricket World Cup, and the host nation India has a stronghold on the group stage with 6 wins out of 6. There are still teams who are looking to dislodge teams off those top 4 places and two of them square off in the next game. It will be Afghanistan taking on Sri Lanka on Monday, the 30 of October at the MCA Stadium in Pune. That game will begin at 2 pm IST (8.30 am GMT) but our build-up will begin much sooner. Do join us then. Until then, take care and goodbye!

Rohit Sharma, the Indian skipper says that this was a game of a lot of characters in the squad. Adds that when it got tough the experienced players stepped up. Tells that looking at the tournament, they had to bat first here and were challenged up front as England bowled well. Says they were not great with the bat as losing three wickets that early is not a good sign. Further adds that a couple of guys threw it away including himself in the end but he was just trying to be positive and put away the loose balls. Praises his bowlers for their efforts with the new ball and it was important to get those early wickets. Mentions that they can always rely on the seamers and they exploited the conditions really well. Reckons they have a good balance with the squad and wants everyone to continue like this throughout the tournament.

Jos Buttler, the captain of England starts off by saying that he was very disappointed with the batting performance, at the halfway stage, chasing 230 runs, they would have fancied themselves. He adds that he wasn't sure about the dew which would create some problems for his team and went with his gut at the toss. He then says that he was impressed with the fielding of the team and the bowlers who worked really hard and surprised the opposition's batters but the way they themselves batted was frustrating. Mentions that the Indian bowlers bowled well but they failed to back up the bowling display. Ends by saying that they are aware of the 2025 Champions Trophy Qualification scenario and will look to give it their all.

Rohit Sharma, the skipper of India is the PLAYER OF THE MATCH for his stellar 87 on a difficult pitch. He starts by saying that it was a difficult pitch and after the first 10 overs, it was important to build a partnership. Adds that sometimes you have to play the situation instead of just playing your shots and that experience matters but also reckons that they were still 20-30 runs short. Ends by saying that it was tough against the new ball and it got easier with the softer ball but it was still difficult to rotate strike but is very happy with the win and the performance of his team.

The Presentation ceremony...

Earlier in the game, Jos Buttler won the toss and put India into bat for the first time in this tournament. This decision proved to be a fruitful one as David Willey and Chris Woakes bowled wonderfully up top, getting India three down for just 40 runs. England simply couldn't build on the brilliant start created and the Indian skipper Rohit Sharma countered brilliantly. Adil Rashid bowled well through the middle stages but a solid 87 from Sharma along with an entertaining 49 from Suryakumar Yadav took India to a defendable total of 229 runs. In reply, the Indian pace duo of Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami were all over the opposition batters and along with the spinners, sealed a memorable 100-run win to keep their winning run going in this tournament.

England would have thought just like in 2019, they would end the winning streak of India given their bowling performance but have instead hit rock-bottom with this batting display. The openers started briskly and Dawid Malan definitely looked good but he chopped one onto the stumps and very uncharacteristically, Joe Root got across the stumps first ball only to be trapped in front. From there, there was no coming back as Ben Stokes and Jonny Bairstow perished soon enough. Liam Livingstone and Moeen Ali offered some resistance but succumbed to the mounting pressure and only David Willey was the other batter who got a couple of lusty blows away before they got bundled out for 129 runs.

India had just 229 runs on the board, exactly what the Netherlands had in the last game against Bangladesh and just like the Dutch, India were able to pull off a commanding win as well. Jasprit Bumrah started off in a fine fashion, keeping things tight but Mohammed Siraj leaked a few runs. Bumrah though got a couple of big wickets in consecutive deliveries before Mohammed Shami came in and bowled a miraculous spell, picking up two quick wickets himself as well. Both bowlers were on a hat-trick at one point but unfortunately, neither could get that elusive feat. Kuldeep Yadav then came in and piled on the pressure and just when England were building a steady stand, Shami came back in and got rid of Moeen Ali. This triggered another collapse and both Shami and Bumrah knocked over the tail, finishing with 4 and 3 wickets respectively.

What a way to seal a sixth consecutive win and India shoot back up to the top of the points table! The host nation was asked the question to defend a score and they have defended a pretty low score with utmost ease and this win will give them even more confidence going into the business end of the tournament. As for England, yet another shambolic showing with the bat and the reigning champions stay rooted to the bottom of the table.

OUT! BOWLED'EM! Jasprit Bumrah finishes the job for India! He nails another fine yorker, on middle, tailing in a bit, Mark Wood is late to put his bat down in time to dig it out and misses as the ball rattle the stumps. INDIA WIN BY 100 RUNS!

A yorker now, outside off, David Willey digs it out wide of backward point for a single.

Overpitched and on middle, David Willey drills it towards short covers.

SIX! David Willey clears the fence yet again! Jasprit Bumrah bangs this short but down the leg side, David Willey uses the pace of the ball and hooks it over the fine leg fence for a biggie.

On a length and on middle, David Willey tucks it off the inner half towards short mid-wicket.

Mark Wood is the last man in for England.

OUT! TIMBER! Mohammed Shami finally gets his man! He has his fourth wicket and sends Adil Rashid packing here. Shami serves this one full and around off, swinging in sharply, Adil Rashid moves across to flick it but misses it completely as the ball goes through the gates to shatter the stumps. India one wicket away from the win now!

FOUR! Nice shot! Mohammed Shami lands this back of a length and around off, Adil Rashid gets on top of the bounce and punches it nicely through covers for another boundary.