England V India T20I Live: Quick Wickets Stymie Indian Progress
Samit Patel gets his third over given that he has done well but Dravid finally connects. A slog six over the long-on boundary against the spin, followed by the second six in a row.
The third ball is also sent over the fence, square-leg this time and Dravid and his fans are probably pinching themselves. Is this for real? And if so, why is he retiring?
If he were to look at those shots though, he wouldn’t want to come near this game again! Audacious strokes but not from Dravid’s textbook of cricket! As if that matters! 22 off that over and India are away...
India: 101/1 after 11 overs
Ravi Bopara is their sixth bowler and surprise, surprise, he gets the wicket! Dravid drills him straight to the short cover where Morgan takes a sharp chance. Some respite for England as Dravid goes for 31, that came off 21 balls only. 18 of the runs off only three balls.
Virat Kohli is the new man and take a single to get away.
India: 105/2 after 12 overs
Broad brings himself on again, for what should be his third over. He has been hit for six sixes in a single T20I over by an Indian, Yuvraj Singh, but those were different days. Now, he is the captain of the T20 side!
This time though, Broad makes it two wickets in two overs, as Rahane slams him straight to the third-man for Dernbach to take a simple catch. An excellent innings ends but will India stall the oh-so-famous collapses that one has got so used to seeing in the Tests. He made 61 off 39 balls.
Interesting to see that Broad is looking to bounce the Indians in this over and Kohli perishes off another short ball – top-edging to the wicket-keeper. Broad is doing what he had done at Trent Bridge...
Suresh Raina is greeted with a, you guessed it right – a bouncer with a leg gully in place. It is a wide but the intentions are clear. Another short ball and Raina scraps a hook for a single.
India: 110/4 after 13 overs
Surprisingly, Swann comes into the attack and not a quick bowler to pepper the vice-captain. Raina is ready for the challenge and shimmies the bowler, inside out to the fence. It must be remembered that Raina was dismissed on many an occasion by Swann in the Tests.
It is Rohit Sharma, who gives his wicket away though. Coming into the series after the man of the series performance in West Indies, Sharma goes for a languid, umm, stroll. The wicket-keeper had enough time to fumble a couple of attempts before effecting the stumping and India have lost half their side.
That is the second near-miss from Kieswetter, pressure on him?
Can Dhoni turn things around?
India: 117/5 after 14 overs
Broad, at the other end, decides to finish out his overs, a decision probably brought about by the batsmen in front – Raina and Dhoni – both of whom had struggled against him in the Tests.
First ball, short as expected and Raina is waiting. He gets the pull out and connects it, sends it flying over square-leg for a six. Slips go out, which is where Raina plays the fourth ball of the over and gets a four.
Some kind of a comeback for the Indians, 12 off that over.
India: 129/5 after 15 overs
