England vs India, Flashback: 3 T20s played between England and India in England

#1 Dhoni fails to get India over the finishing line in a cliff-hanger at Edgbaston – 2014

This was the one-off T20 game played between both the teams in the 2014 season of India’s tour of England. Electing to bat first on a bright and sunny day at the Birmingham Oval, England got off to a shaky start losing Jason Roy (8) and Moeen Ali (0) inside 4 overs.

Alex Hales and Joe Root took the attack to the opposition scoring runs at a brisk pace. Hales struck 3 huge maximums in his 25-ball 40 before being dismissed off the bowling of Ravindra Jadeja.

However, the innings of the match came from the England Skipper Eoin Morgan. The elegant left-hander struck a blistering 71 off just 36 balls, which propelled the scoring rate of England. Morgan struck 7 huge sixes and 3 boundaries in 71 and took the Indian bowlers to the cleaners.

Ravi Bopara (21*) struck few lusty blows in the end and England managed to put up a daunting total of 180/7 in their allocated 20 overs.

Mohammad Shami was the pick of the bowlers with 3-38 in his 4 overs, while Mohit Sharma, Karn Sharma, and Ravi Jadeja picked up 1 wicket apiece.

In reply, India lost opener Ajinkya Rahane (8) in the very second over bowled off the bowling of Moeen Ali.

Virat Kohli and Shikhar Dhawan struck together a 79-run partnership for the second wicket. While Dhawan milked the bowling from one end, Kohli was aggressive against the England bowling attack. This partnership ensured that the required run rate was in check.

With 92 to win off 10 overs, India lost Shikar Dhawan bowled off the bowling of Chris Woakes for 33. Suresh Raina and Virat Kohli struck together a 42-run partnership for the 3rd wicket before Kohli chipped one into the hands of the deep square leg fielder to be dismissed for a well made 66.

Following the dismissal of Virat Kohli, India required 50 runs from 34 balls and with the likes of Suresh Raina and M.S Dhoni in the crease this was a game in the hands of India.

However, things took a twist as England picked up the crucial wickets of Suresh Raina and Ravi Jadeja in quick succession.

Suresh Raina was clean bowled off the bowling of Harry Gurney for 25, followed by a mix-up that led to the run out of Ravindra Jadeja in the 18th over.

17 runs were required off the last over with M.S Dhoni on strike partnered by Ambati Rayudu. Chris Woakes was given the responsibility to bowl the last over.

19.1 Dhoni strikes one for 6 over deep-midwicket for a gigantic six to bring the equation to 11 off 5 deliveries.

19.2 A slower ball from Chris Woakes, get pulled towards deep midwicket by M.S Dhoni and both the batsman run 2 runs.

19.3 9 required off 4 balls, Dhoni pulls one again towards deep mid-wicket but with no timing at all. Dhoni refuses to take a run this time.

19.4 9 required off 3 balls, Chris Woakes bowls another slower delivery that gets pulled straight down the ground over the mid-off fielder for a boundary.

19.5 5 required off 2 balls, Dhoni swings one across the hips that reaches the deep square fielder but Dhoni denies the single again.

5 runs were required off the last ball, Woakes delivers another short delivery that gets pulled straight towards the fielder at deep-midwicket. The batsmen could only manage a single and India fell short by 4 runs.

Chris Woakes managed to hold on to his nerve against the might of M.S Dhoni to handover a remarkable victory for England.

Result: England win the one-off T20 by 3 runs

For his blistering knock of 71, Eoin Morgan was awarded Man of the Match.

Once again, critics came hard at M.S Dhoni citing at his tactics to refuse singles in the last over of the game.