Axar joins Gill-Iyer party to help India secure easy win in Nagpur

NAGPUR: India won the first match of the ODI series against England on Thursday. Chasing a target of 249 runs, India surpassed the score in 38.4 overs with the loss of just six wickets. Shubman Gill, Shreyas Iyer and Axar Patel scored half-centuries which turned pivotal for India’s win. Shubman Gill scored 87 runs off 96 balls. With the win, India took the lead in the three-match series (1-0).

India stumbled early in the chase with Yashasvi Jaiswal returning to the pavilion with just 15 runs. In the next over, captain Rohit Sharma was dismissed after scoring just two runs. India smelled danger at 2 for 19, but Shreyas Iyer 59(36) and Shubman Gill combined for the third wicket to take India forward. 97 runs were scored in the partnership between the two.

Axar Patel, who came to the crease in the fifth over, shared a century partnership with Gill to seal the win for India. The meticulous use of Axar as a low-order batsman proved handy for the team. The left-handed batsman orchestrated the game and when he got dismissed, fans shared no concern as the victory was right at the offing.

England, who won the toss and batted first, ended their innings with 248 runs in 47.4 overs. Openers Philip Salt 43(26) and Ben Duckett 32(29) added 75 runs for the first wicket and alter Jos Buttler joined the bandwagon with a neatly played half-century to take England to a decent total.