It's a tie! 100 overs of scintillating ODI cricket and the scores are level! That's what World Cup cricket is about! Swann drives hard as Munaf finds a perfect line and length, hit it cleanly but straight to mid-off who managed to make no fumble and pinned England to a single to seal the tie
India vs England, 11th Match, Group B at Bengaluru, Feb 27 2011 - Match Result
Tendulkar has broken the record for most sixes (190) in ODIs for IND, going past Ganguly's 189
This is the highest match aggregate (676) involving England & India in ODIs
Match tied Well well well. If it weren't for Munaf's short run from the last ball of India's innings India would have this game! Incredible match, Strauss's innings must rank as the best England ODI innings after Gooch's World Cup 115 in 1983. Fourth tied game in World Cup history. Breathless stuff, that game has twisted one way and another and again and another before ending up even. Ian Bell's Powerplay shot? India fluffing their last few overs with the bat? Misfields all round, all end up magnified.
What is left to say about it really. India were a bowler short, England a batsmen short and in the end it balanced to a perfect equilibrium. Zaheer's spell with the old ball in the batting Powerplay was remarkable. He is the absolute key to India's World Cup, more than Sachin or Sehwag I would argue. England will be gutted, Strauss led a chase like no other and deserved the win. Also Tim Bresnan, first with five wickets and then 14 runs to hold England together when they were doing their best to fall apart.
"The way they started I definitely am happy with a tie," says Dhoni. "When they were 2 down the way they were going the bowlers were finding it very tough. Zak changed it around for us he is a different bowler if you try and come at him it's very difficult. It could count as a win in the points table at the end."
Yes and no, really," answers Strauss to whether he is happy with the result. "We were in a great position and then had a shocking Powerplay. After that we were lucky and grateful for Swann and Shahzad to getting us to the tie. We're happy and devastated at the same time but privileged to play in a game like this."
Strauss is rightly named man of the match, "it's the best innings I've played." Indeed. Phew, that was immense fun. My nerves, not to mention fingers, are in tatters. Andrew Miller has somehow got to squeeze everything into a bulletin, when it's done it will be well worth a read. Might not get a better game all tournament. Not sure what that's done to the Fantasy standings but you should go and find out. The next game is, er, Canada v Zimbabwe tomorrow. Do join us for it.
Swann miles down the track, wants the boundary to finish it but finds an inside edge by heaving to leg. Manic running and slow fielding have him back for a second. One to tie, but two for a famous, unbelievable win...
Shahzad misses outside off but Swann has called through for a bye! Clever, steely stuff from Munaf, quite how a bowler holds his nerve in a situation like this is beyond me. Oh Shahzad what a strike that was.
Strauss is on his feet, Swann is screaming! What a shot from Shahzad! So clean! Just got his front leg out the way, got the half-volley he wanted and creamed it straight down the ground, over the bowler's head and into the stands for six!
wonderful stuff from Munaf, perfect slower ball, nothing for Swann to work with and he can only outside edge to third man. Shahzad hits a long ball though...
Swann gives himself room outside off to drive towards cover, doesn't get the boundary he needs but a misfield allows him to keep the strike by scampering back a second
So, after 99 overs England need 14 to pull off a historic victory. India favourites, Munaf to bowl it...
Chawla strikes back! One way and another this match is going! Bresnan tried again to to find the boundary, he had to, but it's quicker and flatter and through him onto off stump
Bresnan has nailed this! Not another twist, surely! Down one knee, clearing his front leg and thrashing the life out of it, to send it rocketing over midwicket once more
ooh, Bresnan trying to match Swann but can't quite time it as well. Pressure on though and a misfield allows him to come back for a second
Swann down the wicket now to try and swing a similar shot, this one skews off the leading edge and looped towards third man on the bounce
absolute silence as Swann is on the sweep again. This time getting all of it and it shoots flat, hard over the midwicket rope!
big slog sweep attempted, but Swann only finds fresh air
Righty, Chawla on. Now or never. I suspect the latter.
lovely slower ball from Munaf. Saw Swann advancing, slipped it in slower, Swann ended up pushing back to him and there could well have been a run out but Munaf opted not to shy at the stumps
Bresnan heaving but just can't get the timing or elevation to drag England back into this
more canny work from Munaf, full and straight, Swann times his drive nicely but all along the ground to the long-off fielder
Graeme Swann is the new man. Tough day he's had.
Yardy is out, and England must be as well now. Strauss has his head in his hand, he deserved more. Yardy tried to flip this over short fine leg but couldn't get enough on the slower ball and it spooned straight to the man
Munaf is full and straight, you know what you'll get and Dhoni has set the field for it. Try as he did, Bresnan heaving through the line can only earn a single down the ground
Yardy looking for something expansive but only finds a thickish edge that runs away to third man. Somehow a boundary has got to come
Munaf now into the attack, he's canny but this has to England's target.
ooh, top fielding at point saves four here. Yardy squeezed out a fullish ball and timed it well but diving fielding prevented damage. What a Powerplay for India, just 25 runs and four, four wickets. Zaheer's work is done.
Zaheer Kahn is now trending on Twitter. He's be thrilled I'm sure...
Yardy playing this nicely, slicing out to deep point. Hares back for a second but England need boundaries soon
M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bangalore | |
Toss | India, elected to bat first |
Series | |
Season | 2010/11 |
Player Of The Match | |
Match number | ODI no. 3110 |
Hours of play (local time) | 14.30 start, First Session 14.30-18.00, Interval 18.00-18.45, Second Session 18.45-22.15 |
Match days | 27 February 2011 - daynight (50-over match) |
Umpires | |
TV Umpire | |
Reserve Umpire | |
Match Referee | |
Points | India 1, England 1 |