26th over: India 133-1 (Rohit 70, Kohli 63) Stokes to Rohit, and it doesn’t look like the short ball is causing him trouble anymore.
Four! Pulled away fine by Rohit.
Four! Overcorrection, too far outside off, and it’s slashed away through point instead.
Four! Three in a row, with the best shot Rohit has played all day. Barely even a drive, he just placed the bat out wide, with the face open towards point, and caressed the wide full ball to the fence.
The Indian rate is well up past 5 an over now, though it still needs to be 8.5.
25th over: India 120-1 (Rohit 57, Kohli 63) That. Is. Extraordinary.
From where I’m sitting high above the field at fine third man, you get a great overview of the angles at play. For Kohli to play a cover drive that goes square enough to beat the man in the circle, but straight enough that the sweeper at point can’t get there, requires the most precise angle between them. Kohli threads it perfectly, reaching out to Rashid’s wide delivery. Boundary off the first ball, then four singles. Five fifties in a row for Kohli at this World Cup, too, by the by.
24th over: India 112-1 (Rohit 55, Kohli 57) Rohit is closing in on Kohli’s score now. Five runs from the Stokes over as Rohit cuts a couple. “With Rohit growing restless, the next 20 min could be crucial in this game,” emails Anand. “If he has a go at the bowlers and it comes off, India will still be in the race. If he gets out, we lose one of our few big 100 batsmen early in the chase.”
23rd over: India 107-1 (Rohit 52, Kohli 55) More singles from Rashid, then a lofted cover drive off Rohit’s bat helps make this a good over for India, and raises the opener’s fifty into the bargain. He isn’t striking the ball at his absolute best, but he’s growing into this innings.
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22nd over: India 100-1 (Rohit 47, Kohli 53) Maybe that was the most convincing shot of Rohit’s career! Width from Stokes, and the batsman gets forward and times the wide cover drive to perfection. Sweeper never had a chance. Seven from the over and the hundred is up in quick time. Feels like we just mentioned the fifty.
21st over: India 93-1 (Rohit 42, Kohli 51) Not the most convincing shot of Rohit Sharma’s career, but he batters Rashid’s first ball up and over cover for four. It plops along to the fence. That’s to open the over, then from the last ball Rohit gets width to cut, and splits the two men either side of point! A big dive and a puff of dust off the practice wicket can’t stop that shot. Plus a couple of singles in between. A big over. They need more than 8 an over though, and are still under 4.5.
20th over: India 83-1 (Rohit 33, Kohli 50) Stokes to bowl now, and what a weapon it is when the guy who was switch-hitting sixes in making another vital fifty can also come out and bowl fast through the middle of an innings. He nearly starts with a wicket too, as Rohit tries to smash over long-off and only gets a thick edge high over backward point for a single. Kohli takes a more clinical approach, whipping four off his pads before playing an effortless check drive that nearly beats both cover in the circle and the sweeper in the deep, but not quite. Two runs bring up his minor milestone.
George Browne emails in. “As reported to Rob earlier today, I’m attending the #londonseries at the London Stadium today for the American Cricket match between the Yankees and the Redsox, so will be relying on your updates to keep me sane (or otherwise). Initial impressions are that there’s a lot more and louder music than I’m used to at Lords, that the hotdogs are longer and the waistlines correspondingly vast (and some of the Lord’s crowd are well endowed in that respect). Fingers crossed that the English bowlers can do one on Virat’s boys so I can enjoy the game...”
19th over: India 74-1 (Rohit 31, Kohli 43) Adil Rashid comes on for the first time today. It wasn’t a happy outing for India’s wrist-spinners, who went for 160 between them from their 20 overs. Rashid starts more economically, conceding three singles as the batsmen have a look.
18th over: India 71-1 (Rohit 29, Kohli 42) A great save from Roy at backward point, diving away as Kohli cuts, and turning four into one. A more gentle shot from Kohli goes finer for two to close the over. But Wood has done well, 25 from his four so far, pulling things back after an expensive start.
17th over: India 67-1 (Rohit 28, Kohli 39) Plunkett, and now the runs start to flow. Rohit glides one, giving Kohli the chance to force out through cover for four. Kohli punches straight, giving Rohit the change to wallop a pull shot for four. Finally made good contact, and the Indian crowd rises as one. The partnership is worth 60, and these two can make up ground in a twinkling if things tilt their way.
India fans celebrates as Kohli hits a four. Photograph: Tom Jenkins/The Guardian
15th over: India 53-1 (Rohit 22, Kohli 31) Rohit Sharma is really struggling with Plunkett’s bounce. He miscues a cut shot for a run, then once back on strike, misses out three times with various sorts of pull shot, including one that nearly swings him off his feet.
Vritti Goel has sent us a lovely missive from afar. “Timing iseverything. Right now weather in my neighbourhood in India is on the side of cricket, as the waterfall of a monsoon we’d been experiencing here for the past 36 hours (that disrupt our satellite TV networks) ceased the moment the first ball of the match was bowled. It’s crucial we get the water, because, well, the country seems to have run out of the stuff, but here’s me selfishly hoping it waits a few hours. I want to see how Pant holds up in this pressure.
“Thought I’d also drop this gem about my grandmum: if she had her way, the ‘enemy’ wouldn’t hit at all: 10 wickets in 10 balls is her ideal opponent’s innings, while our team would hit every ball for a boundary without a wicket taken – although I don’t think she’s realized that if this happens, she wouldn’t ever see her favourite Dhoni play.
“That scenario would bring some peace of mind for the rest of us us though (there were many minutes-long diatribes against Pandya, her least favourite, during the 1st half, while Rahul is her current target). My question for you/other cricket experts here: Has there ever been a 10-in-10, or a super short all-out innings (say, a couple overs) in the history of international cricket?”
Thanks Vri. Not in international cricket – the shortest ODI innings was Zimbabwe in 2017, when Afghanistan bowled them out in 13.5 overs. I well remember Australia having their shortest against New Zealand in that famous 2015 World Cup match at Eden Park, bowled out in 24.2 overs.
There have been teams who have all made ducks before, including a scoreless innings where no extras hid any blemishes. Read on.
14th over: India 51-1 (Rohit 21, Kohli 30) Four runs for Kohli! That screeeeeams off the bat. Most cover drives are a matter of touch and placement, but that’s hit with genuine violence, and with Wood’s pace it hits the fence in an instant. He’s already pulled a couple of runs and then glanced a couple in this over and raised the fifty. Are we on to see a Kohli special?
13th over: India 43-1 (Rohit 21, Kohli 22) Plunkett again, and again the batsmen don’t want to take him on, just knocking around three singles. The required rate is nearly 8 an over, and the current rate is not much past 3. This is a funny way to run a big chase, but Kohli has the results more than anyone.
12th over: India 40-1 (Rohit 20, Kohli 20) Mark Wood time, the shorter and skiddier of England’s two brisk men. I’m not sure if it’s the best balance for England with both Wood and Archer in the side. They’ve missed Plunkett, and now that he’s back they’ve had to dispense with Moeen’s off-spin. An pace attack of Archer, Plunkett, Woakes and Stokes looks pretty good for mine, with two spinners in support. But Wood has been bowling well. It’s a tough one.
Rohit decides to take him on in this first over. First a pull shot through midwicket for four, just clouted really. Then a shorter ball and Rohit really gets that one on the pull and hits it square for another. The batsmen are 20-20.
Rohit pulls for four. Photograph: Andrew Boyers/Action Images via Reuters
11th over: India 31-1 (Rohit 11, Kohli 19) An immediate change as the powerplay comes to an end, with Liam Plunkett back in the side and back in the attack. Both batsmen immediately look a bit more comfortable, driving into the off side to pick up three singles.
“A wicket and 3 maidens in a row for Woakes and it’s not the best use of the new ball?!” writes George Humphreys. “I remain, etc. etc.”
More like George Harrumphries, am I right? Ehhhhh. I mean, bowling maidens is great, in a game where you want to stop the opposition from scoring. But also, you only get one new ball (ok, one from each end), and if you’re a swing bowler you might be well served to try to swing it, I’d have thought. Not many bowlers are aiming for the leading edge back to them as a clear plan.
10th over: India 28-1 (Rohit 11, Kohli 17) Now Archer forces Kohli to stay cautious. A defensive shot, a stroke to the field, a bouncer that Kohli can’t connect with. Back to defence thereafter. A single to third man. 28 from the first 10 overs. Even in this World Cup of go-slows, this is a go-slow.
9th over: India 27-1 (Rohit 11, Kohli 16) Woakes carries on, and finally someone wants to mess up his pretty figures. Kohli skips down first ball of the over and lofts him cleanly over cover, bouncing away for four. Didn’t want to just let Woakes dictate terms any more. Clips a single to follow. Rohit tries to glide but can’t beat backward point.
8th over: India 22-1 (Rohit 11, Kohli 11) Archer tries the short ball for the first time today, and Kohli climbs into it. No hesitation in hooking, though the sweeper will keep it to one. The cautious phase continues. 22 on the board, 11 each. Very neat.
“An Ireland fan here, in the cold tundra outside the World Cup looking forward to the first ODI of the Zimbabwe series tomorrow,” writes Michael Keane. “Having been at Lord’s yesterday and Tuesday for 2 low scoring twisty-turny games I’m interested in how this chase will go. Is the pitch noticeably different to others in the tournament? And, out of interest, what’s the highest World Cup chase ever?”
This pitch definitely seems to have much truer bounce, and more pace, than the sludgy ones we saw at Lord’s. As for the highest run chase, I think it was actually Ireland. Against... wait a minute. Wait a minute.
7th over: India 20-1 (Rohit 10, Kohli 10) Finally a run! A run from Chris Woakes! Crowds cheer. Dancers leap from doorways to perform an impromptu work of choreography. The corn is as high as an elephant’s eye. Rohit squeezes out a defensive shot through square leg for one. Kohli gets his turn blocking Woakes, and does, bar an inside edge that goes perilously close to his stumps. He tucks a couple of runs to midwicket from the last ball.
6th over: India 17-1 (Rohit 9, Kohli 8) Edged by Kohli! First runs for the Indian captain come courtesy of an Archer delivery that leaves him, takes a thicc nicc, and bounces wide of the slips to zip down to third man. No doubt about the second boundary though, punched through cover by Kohli. He’s here to play.
“Form is temporary and class is permanent,” writes Saurabh Raye. “Congratulations England, well played.”
Kohli ducks a bouncer from Archer. Photograph: Andrew Boyers/Action Images via Reuters
5th over: India 9-1 (Rohit 9, Kohli 0) Three maidens in a row for Woakes. Rohit is the batsman again, and is again happy to soak up the new ball and make sure he’s still there later in the day. Everything is around off stump, but Woakes is still bowling back of a length. Not sure if this is the most perfect use of the new ball.
4th over: India 9-1 (Rohit 9, Kohli 0) Now Archer finds his groove. That didn’t take long. He looks so good, gliding to the crease, cutting the ball in, then out. Rohit survives the over by being as watchful as can be, glancing a run from the final ball.
3rd over: India 8-1 (Rohit 8, Kohli 0) A wicket maiden for Woakes, as Kohli sees out the last three balls. Plenty of time for India to build, no need to rush.
“A question for you, who’s figures are better in this day in age and what the ODI game has become, Bumrah’s 1 for 44, or Shami’s 5 for 69? Wickets still the key? Intriguing isn’t it.”
There are definitely variations, Richard Dennis, depending on who the wickets belong to and when the runs are conceded. Bowlers in the death overs will go for more than those in the middle, for instance. In this case, Shami’s wickets were key batsmen, so the runs he went for potentially saved a lot of other runs being scored. Though also Bumrah’s parsimony partly created the pressure that brought Shami’s wickets. It all goes a long way beyond the basic stat columns.
Woakes strikes! A leading edge as KL Rahul tries to turn to leg, and Woakes dives forward to take a good one. Cheer surges back into England hearts. Virat Kohli walks to the crease early.
Woakes takes the catch off his own bowling to dismiss Rahul for a duck. Photograph: Tom Jenkins/The Guardian
Woakes celebrates. Photograph: Tom Jenkins/The Guardian
2nd over: India 8-0 (Rahul 0, Rohit 8) Jofra Archer now from the broadcast end of the ground, a strong breeze rippling his light blue trousers. Pitches up first ball and is driven gloriously for four! Dead straight down the ground from Rohit Sharma, consummate ease. Archer tries again, dialling back the length, and... he’s dropped! Put down at second slip. Felt for the ball, thick edge, to Root’s right. It was ribcage high, slightly awkward in that Root didn’t know whether to go with fingers up or down. And he’s shelled it. Next up? An effortless flick through square leg for four.
1st over: India 0-0 (Rahul 0, Rohit 0) Away we go. Chris Woakes to open the bowling from the city end, Birmingham’s skyline behind him. He’s on the spot straightaway, but bowling too short for his swing to cause any havoc.The sun is out and the clouds aren’t heavy, but surely you have to give the ball a chance to move, Christopher? A maiden to start.
“As an Aussie, going against type and barracking for the Poms. The batting tonight was great and it is always good to have the host at the pointy end of proceedings. This said, fully expect India to upset the apple cart.”
That’s... mostly nice from Martin Turnbull? Peace offering! The friendship boat has sailed forth.
Hello all. Thank you, Rob. I’d like to correct the record by saying that I am in fact a complete mess, but not for reasons related to this cricket match. Just more of a general statement. In the last few minutes it was partly also because my laptop decided to choose this innings break to install one of the longest updates of all time, which to be honest I had probably been pressing ‘Remind me tomorrow’ on for about three years. Timing is everything.
I see the emails are flooding in already. Good stuff, nothing I love more than anxious England supporters. Who can be the most downcast about batting first and making 337? Let’s have a competition. Fire at will.
That’s it from me. Geoff Lemon - who is neutral, and therefore not a complete mess - will talk you through India’s innings. They need the highest runchase in World Cup history. They also have the greatest runchaser of all time in Virat Kohli, and one of the best finishers in MS Dhoni. Thanks for your company and emails. Please get in touch with Geoff by email or Twitter. Bye!
“It was great to be back out there with Jonny, who played extremely well. We’ve put a competitive total on the board so let’s hope we can bowl well. Injury wasn’t an issue – I ran at about 80 per cent, which was the advice from the doctors. We’d have been disappointed with anything under 300, but we’re pretty happy with that. We should be all right. Fingers crossed.”
Jasprit Bumrah is a genius. Stokes, who has tried almost every shot in the book against Bumrah without success, manufactures a scoop that flies straight to the substitute Jadeja at fine leg. Stokes played a cracking innings of 79 from 54 balls, but Bumrah was a bit too good for him. It was almost a no-ball but he had something behind the line. Two balls remaining.
Stokes leaves the field after being dismissed for 79. Photograph: Tom Jenkins/The Guardian
49th over: England 334-6 (Stokes 78, Plunkett 0) Stokes - who has played three stunning innings in the last nine days, all of them completely different - leathers Shami’s hat-trick ball to cow corner for four. He follows that with a pull for six and a drive over extra cover for four. He has 78 from 51 balls, including 73 from the last 38, and turns down a single for Plunkett off the last ball of the over to keep the strike. Shami ends with figures of 10-1-69-5, although his last three overs went for 44.
“Do you think we should reconsider the value of boundaries being 4, seeing as most of the scoring now is 1, 2, 4 or 6?” says Laurence Trost. “Where are the 3s? And we keep being reminded of “short boundaries” so I think that the athletic batsmen today would only be able to run 3 for balls that travel that distance.”
It’s an interesting point. But you want to have that discussion now?
Five wickets for the brilliant Mohammad Shami! Woakes hooks towards deep square leg, where Rohit Sharma runs in and swoops to take a fine low catch. England have 11 balls remaining.
48th over: England 319-5 (Stokes 63, Woakes 7) The new batsman, Chris Woakes, top-edges Bumrah just short of fine leg. He gets it right later in the over, swatting a hook for four. That’s only the third boundary Bumrah has conceded all day. He is, in the parlance of our time, a freak.
Buttler falls after a handy cameo of 20 from eight balls. He top-edged a pull straight up in the air, and Shami took the catch off his own bowling. Until then it had been a miserable over for Shami, with 17 off the first five balls. That included 14 runs from full tosses - a four for Stokes and a four and a six for Buttler.
Shami takes the catch to dismiss Buttler for 20. Photograph: Andy Kearns/Getty Images
46th over: England 293-4 (Stokes 54, Buttler 10) More stunning bowling from Bumrah, who beats Stokes with consecutive deliveries - a slower yorker (I think) and a bouncer. Bumrah is undeathhittable. He finishes a brilliant over – four from it – by slipping a wide yorker under Buttler’s bat.
45th over: England 289-4 (Stokes 51, Buttler 9) Stokes, backing up too far, survives a run-out chance when Bumrah’s throw misses the stumps. Buttler swivel-pulls his second ball flat and hard for six, a stroke of almost laughable majesty, and then steals a third run following an overthrow. Stokes belts the last ball for a couple to reach another half-century, this time from 38 balls. He’s not a big-game player; he’s a huge-game player.
“They’re saying 340 is a par score on this pitch?” says Andrew Hurley. “Considering it’s a WC game etc, par can’t be 340 - I think the fact India are playing without pressure means they could chase a big total but I would have thought par given circumstances around 320/325?”
Well, there’s par, and there’s Kohli/Dhoni par. My considered opinion is that I haven’t a clue who’s on top.
A breakthrough for India - and for England. Root pings a scoop down towards fine leg, where Pandya takes a fine running catch. I wonder if he thought about dropping it to keep Root at the crease and Buttler in the dressing-room. Root made 44 from 54 balls. It wasn’t a bad innings, and actually the first part was important to avert collapse, but he did not have the power to accelerate.
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