1st ODI IND Vs ENGLAND

England captain Andrew Flintoff won the toss and decided to field first in the first oneday international match .Indian openers Sehwag and Gambhir began on a good note in their home ground but Sehwag once again got out to a rising delivery to give the initial advantage to England on a pitch which did not assist batting.

Dravid who came in as next was lucky as he was dropped of the very first ball he faced at slips by Owasis
Shah who failed to hold on a easy chance at the slips of Kabir Ali’s bowling.

Gambhir who was given an other chance in one day internationals found his form initially as he hit some beautiful shots on off side and he showed a lot of promise when he pulled a ball from Kabir Ali to Six over mid wicket.

Gambhir once again proved that he is not fit to make big scores when he edged an away going delivery to
Wicket keeper Geriant Jones. Yuvraj Singh who came in as next did not lost long as he dragged on a delivery from outside his off stump on to his stumps as India lost it’s third wicket in quick succession.


Kaif who came in as next also lost his wicket due to negligence as he was guilty of watching the ball as he responded to quick call from his captain for a quick single as it caught Kaif just short of his crease.

Dravid who was in very good touch and just when he set for a big score he was bowled as he responded late to a incoming delivery from Kabir Ali. As Dravid lost his wicket at the individual score of 33 ,as India looked in dire straits with the score on 92/5 with only Raina ,Dhoni,Pathan to come.

Pathan and Raina were involved in a fruitful partnership as just when they were looking set for a big score Raina chipped a shot to Pietersen at cover as India lost his sixth wicket. Dhoni who came in as next adapted very well to the situation as he did not look for big shots in his initial part of the innings.

Pathan who scored a delightful 28 also his lost wicket as he played a rash shot to leave India struggling .As Dhoni and Harbhajan came together to forge a partnership which took India to score of 200 with Harbhajan playing some superb shots much to the delight of crowd .Kabir Ali once again came good as he claimed two quick wickets in the end to dismiss India for the score of 203 with more than four overs remaining.

England's innings:

England began the chase of 203 on a very distratrous note as they lost Strauss to the first of the ball of the innings as Irfan Pathan deceived him with an away swinger.Shah who came in as next cracked a boundary of the very first ball he faced as looked in good form ,but Pathan striked back as he trapped Shah with an in swinger as England lost his second wicket in the very first over.

Prior and Pietersen who came in as next did the rescue attack as they played some attacking shots to force
Dravid to delay the second power play .Mathew Prior was unlucky to get out as he top edged a sweep to be only caught at Deep Square leg by Gambhir of Harbhajan Singh.

Flintoff who came in as next joined Pietersen in the middle to force India on a back foot as they attacked Indian bowlers with some brute force as England raised to 117 in 19 overs . Pietersen who was in very good
Form just when he looked well set for a half century a full toss from Yuvraj Singh did the trick as topedged a delivery to be caught at Deep Square leg by Gautam Gambhir.

The very next over Bhaji got into form as he trapped Flintoff in front of wicket as Once again an England batsman got out to sweep shot. Geriant Jones was the next one to go as he was bowled by an Harbhajan off spinner which spun sharply to hit Jones middle stump.

Collingwood who was the last recognized batsman also lost his wicket when Mohammed Kaif caught an absolute reflex catch to get rid of Collingwood .Blackwell was the next one to go as he was caught at deep midwicket near the boundary line by Gambhir.

Kabir Ali was the next one to go as he was trapped by Yuvraj in front of the wicket as India raised away to victory.Anderson and Plunkett tried to forge a partnetnership but it was too much late as the England innings folded at 164 when he edged a delivery from Pathan to Dhoni.