ENG v IND 2018: Michael Vaughan slams India’s poor batting show in Lord’s ODI

Team India was bundled out for 236 while chasing England's mammoth target of 323 in the second ODI.

Moeen Ali celebrates dismissing India captain Virat Kohli at Lord's | Getty

Riding on Joe Root's century and Liam Plunkett's four-wicket haul, England thrashed India by 86 runs in the second ODI at Lord's on Saturday (July 14). By virtue of this victory, the hosts also leveled the three-match series 1-1.

Chasing 323, the star-studded Indian batting line-up slumped to 60-3 despite a 49-run opening stand between Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan. The reassuring presence of captain Virat Kohli kept the visitors in the game as he forged an 80-run partnership with Suresh Raina for the fourth wicket to steady the ship.

However, once Kohli was lbw to Moeen Ali for 45, the tourists limped to 236-all out and eventually lost the contest by a huge margin of 86 runs.

Seeing the way mighty Indian batting line-up capitulated under pressure, former England captain Michael Vaughan has criticized the tourists’ approach after 30 overs.

“India cannot be happy with that chase ... almost as if they decided to have an afternoon middle practice after around 30 overs ... for such a formidable Batting line up that can’t be right ... #ENGvIND #Lords,” Vaughan tweeted after the match.

Earlier, Eoin Morgan won the toss and opted to bat first. England got off to a reasonable start with Jason Roy and Jonny Bairstow adding 69 runs in 10 overs. Just when the home team was looking to boss the game, Kuldeep came into the attack and struck in his very first over by removing Bairstow (38). He followed it up with Roy’s (40) wicket two overs later.

Joe Root along with captain Morgan forged a 103-run stand for the third wicket to steady the sheep. However, Kuldeep continued to prove a nightmare for the Englishmen as he picked up the prize scalp of Morgan (53) that also triggered a little collapse in the middle order. England slumped from 189/2 to 139/6 with Hardik Pandya, Umesh Yadav, and Yuzvendra Chahal also claiming wicket apiece.

Amidst the collapse, Root held one end up to bring his 12th ODI ton off 109 balls. He stitched an 83 run partnership with David Willey, who played a brilliant knock of 50* in 30 balls. Root got run-out in the last ball of the innings on 113 but not before he pushed England to a mammoth total of 322 in 50 overs.

Headingley will host the series-deciding One-Day Internationals on Tuesday (July 17).

 
 

By Salman Anjum - 15 Jul, 2018

    Share Via