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Conquering the final frontier – England’s tour of India thus far [Part 4]

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Conquering the final frontier – England’s tour of India thus far [Part 4]
Continued from Part 3 …
India, meanwhile, appeared to be in danger of posting a low total as http://www.senore.com/Cricket/V-Kohli-c2737 (103) and skipper MS Dhoni (99) resuscitated the innings somewhat,
and battling it out on a tediously slow pitch, India worked their way up to a first innings total of 326 on the fourth day of play.
Determined to take the match towards a draw, England displayed impressive staying power at the crease, batting throughout day four and five. Ashwin (38-11-99-2) put up glimmer of a defence, but for the most part India watched helplessly as England refused
to budge. The heroes of the final innings were Trott (143) and Bell (116*), who stuck it out to get the team up to 352, after which they declared, ending the match on a draw. After a prolonged wait, the final frontier had finally been conquered.
What followed were jubilant celebrations in the England camp, while the home team were left to http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Steven-Mullaney-c2584 over their mistakes. As accolades poured in for England, team India came under a fair amount of flak for their poor performance on home soil.
Next on the agenda was a two-match T20I series, with the first match scheduled to be played on December 20 at the Subrata http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Yuvraj-Singh-c98364 (4-0-19-3) and Ashok
Dinda (3-0-18-2) both keeping a check on the opposition’s batting order. Opening batsman http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Samit-Patel-c2426
(24) and http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Jos-Buttler-c1733 (33*), got the team up to 157 for 6 by the end of 20 overs.
However, while the total was a decent one, England were unable to defend it effectively, bereft as they were of their heroes from the victorious Text XI’s bowling attack. http://www.senore.com/Cricket/TT-Bresnan-c2711 (3-0-26-2) was the only one who was able to make an impact, while the rest
watched on as Player of the Match Yuvraj Singh (38) propelled his side up to 158, with 5 wickets and 13 balls remaining.
The victory afforded the hosts a breath of fresh air, as they finally managed to make their mark after a string of crushing Test defeats. The prospect of securing a series win seemed within their grasp – however, England skipper http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Eoin-Joseph-Gerard-Morgan-c56032 ensured that
the touring team did not falter as they worked their way up to victory in the second T20I (at the Wankhede Stadium in http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Mumbai-c820), and effectively maintained the winning trend they had commenced during the Test series.
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/LJ-Wright-c1841 (4-0-38-2) took two each. Virat
Kohli (38) and http://www.senore.com/Cricket/MS-Dhoni-c2028 (38) were the joint top-scorers for India, and by the end of 20 overs, with 8 wickets down, the team posted a final total of 177.
England, however, displayed an element of tenacity, and proceeded to secure a thrilling last-ball win, refusing to relinquish the series to http://www.senore.com/Cricket/India-c750. The host team’s Yuvraj Singh (4-0-17-3) was once against the danger-man, but Lumb (50) and Hales (42) set up
a steady base, and skipper http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Morgan-c77707 built upon it, remaining unbeaten on 49 and smashing a six off the final ball to take England to a 6-wicket win with zero balls remaining. The T20I series ended at a level 1-1.
Now, with the Test and T20I series behind them, both teams will be taking a short break. Having asserted themselves in the extended-overs format, and managed to end the T20I series on a draw, England will be heading home for Christmas break on a high. Meanwhile,
India will be preparing to face arch-rivals http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755 for an ice-breaking series which marks the resumption of bilateral ties between the two after a deadlock that lasted almost five years. England and India will reunite in January, for a final 5-match ODI
series, which will mark the end of the tour.
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