Four debutants of T20 played in India vs England only T20 match of the 2011 Series. Dernback and Hales wore English cap while Rahane and Dravid wore Indian cap in T20s. Indian inning was a story of contest between Rahane, Dravid, Raina and Dernbach. Hales flopped going 2nd ball duck. Indian target of 166 can be tough for England if Pietersen goes early.
India Bats First
Electing to bat first, Dhoni’s top order tested the experienced English bowlers comprising of Bresnan, Broad and Swann who were all over India during the Test series. Ironically, Indian top order of Parthiv Patel, Rahane and Dravid had two debutants and even Parthiv had played only one T20 before for India. parthiv could score only 10 runs but was part of valuable 39 runs first wicket partnership in 4.4 overs with Rahane.
Debutant Rahane And Dravid
Dravid playing his first and probably last T20 for India joined Rahane and together they added 65 runs in 7 overs. They took India to 104 in 11.4 overs with brilliant on debut half-century (61 runs in 39 balls with 8 boundaries) from Rahane and 21-ball 31 runs from Dravid that included 3 consecutive sixes of the balling of Samit patel. Rahane followed Dravid and score was 106/3.
The Strong But Fallible Middle Order
The great Indian middle order comprised of Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Raina and Dhoni. Except Raina other three failed. Raina scored 19-ball 33 runs with the help of 3 sixes and 2 boundaries. Kohli (4), Rohit (1) and Dhopni (8) looked helpless dspite a good start.
The lower order also could not add much and ultimately Indians were bowled out for the 9th consecutive innings in the England series, after the 8 innings of 4 test matches. India scored 79/1 in first 10 overs. Next 10 overs saw them losing 9 wickets and scoring 86 runs.
Debutant Dernback Leads English Attack
Dernbach, the English debutant emerged as the best bowler grabbing 4/22 in 3.4 overs, proving to be the most economic and best bowler. Captain Broad got 2 in one over, but proved the costliest giving 37 runs. Bresnan (33/1), Swann (28/1) and Bopara (4/1) were other successful bowlers. Samit Patel was the only unsuccessful bowler giving 34 runs in 3 overs.
England lost debutant Hales on 2nd ball of the first over of inning bowled by Praveen Kumar. But till the end of 5th over Kieswetter and Pietersen had helped England reach 43/1. Experience English players sought another victory for England. With good performances from Morgan (49), Pietersen, Samit Patel, Kieswetter and Bopara, England sailed home easily.
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