India v England, 2016-17
Wisden's review of the third ODI, India v England, 2016-17
John Stern
15-Apr-2017
At Kolkata, January 22, 2017 (day/night). England won by five runs. Toss: India.
England won their first match of the winter against India as the one-day series enjoyed a noisy conclusion in front of 56,770 at Eden Gardens. When Jadhav scooped the first two balls of the final over, from Woakes, over extra cover for six and four, India needed only six to complete a whitewash. Instead, for the first time in the series, England's death bowling matched India's ferocious hitting: Woakes produced two dot balls, before Jadhav smeared him to Billings at deep cover to depart for 90 from 75. Bhuvneshwar Kumar was unable to score off the final delivery. After India had inserted England on a pitch of unexpected pace and bounce, Roy and Billings played and missed 15 times in the first eight overs. Roy passed 50 for the third time in the series, before once again falling to Jadeja.
England won their first match of the winter against India as the one-day series enjoyed a noisy conclusion in front of 56,770 at Eden Gardens. When Jadhav scooped the first two balls of the final over, from Woakes, over extra cover for six and four, India needed only six to complete a whitewash. Instead, for the first time in the series, England's death bowling matched India's ferocious hitting: Woakes produced two dot balls, before Jadhav smeared him to Billings at deep cover to depart for 90 from 75. Bhuvneshwar Kumar was unable to score off the final delivery. After India had inserted England on a pitch of unexpected pace and bounce, Roy and Billings played and missed 15 times in the first eight overs. Roy passed 50 for the third time in the series, before once again falling to Jadeja.
Bairstow, replacing the injured Joe Root, was caught at third man off a Bumrah no-ball on 28, and overturned a caught-behind decision off Pandya on 46, but did not exploit his fortune, tamely cutting Pandya to point ten runs later. It was left to Stokes to refuel the innings on the ground where, nine
months earlier, Carlos Brathwaite had ruined his and England's hopes of the World Twenty20 title.
Stokes's unbeaten 57 from 39 balls was his fifth score above 50 in his last eight one-day internationals, and he added a crucial 73 in 6.4 overs with Woakes after England had threatened to stagnate at 246 for six. Three wickets - including Kohli for 55 and Pandya, whose maiden ODI fifty in a sixth wicket stand of 104 from 83 balls with Jadhav had taken India so close - three wickets for Stokes confirmed he would pick up the match award. It was Kohli's first home defeat as captain in 20 matches in all formats.
Man of the Match: B. A. Stokes. Man of the Series: K. M. Jadhav.
Man of the Match: B. A. Stokes. Man of the Series: K. M. Jadhav.