England’s first T20 international against India was abandoned due to rain before the hosts’ had the chance to chase down 190 for victory in Durham.
Just two days after Ben Stokes’ dramatic international retirement at Trent Bridge, Harry Brook – his potential replacement as Test skipper – was in charge of bringing some order to England’s chaotic summer.
In the end, he was forced to settle on a soggy stalemate as rain fell continuously through the first innings, which saw India post a competitive 189-7, then worsened before the hosts had a chance to respond.
Stokes’ absence leaves another vacancy for an all-rounder as well as a skipper in the Test side, with Sam Curran one of the possible options for the former.
Despite only recently returning to bowling, he gave a good account of his left-arm seamers, pinning the dangerous Abishek Sharma for 59 and would have dismissed Shivam Dube at the death had but Jos Buttler’s glovework let him down in the drizzle.
England series opener against India rained off
England started with nine of the players who lost to the same opponents in the T20 World Cup semi-final in March, with the recalled Saqib Mahmood picking up 3-33 as he filled in for the rested Jofra Archer.
India overlooked 15-year-old prodigy Vaibhav Sooryavanshi once again but his time could be coming, with Sanju Samson following two cheap dismissals against Ireland by cutting Mahmood’s fourth ball to point with just one to his name.
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Eoin Morgan in awe of India’s incredibly talented youngster Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and whether he should be given a chance to play more for India.
Two balls later, England struck again through sharp fielding as Brook caught Ishan Kishan napping after India’s No 3 aborted a quick single.
Sharma then counterattacked, blasting a 20-ball fifty and four sixes before Curran dismissed him lbw with a clever leg-cutter.
India captain Iyer anchored the innings with a hard-earned 68, while Dube accelerated late, smashing an unbeaten 42 from 21 balls as the tourists added 44 runs from the final four overs.
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England strike twice in the second over with some brilliant fielding from Harry Brook and a great catch from Tom Banton.
Adil Rashid and Mahmood chipped in with wickets at the death but rain ultimately curtailed proceedings, leaving four matches remaining, starting at Old Trafford on Saturday.
England’s home series against India fixtures
First T20 (Durham) – Match abandoned – no result.Second T20 (Saturday July 4) – Emirates Old Trafford, Manchester (2.30pm)Third T20 (Tuesday July 7) – Trent Bridge, Nottingham (5.30pm)Fourth T20 (Thursday July 9) – Seat Unique Stadium, Bristol (5.30pm)Fifth T20 (Saturday July 11) – Utilita Bowl, Southampton (2.30pm)First ODI (Tuesday July 14) – Edgbaston, Birmingham (11am)Second ODI (Thursday July 16) – Sophia Gardens, Cardiff (1pm)Third ODI (Sunday July 19) – Lord’s, London (11am)
Watch India’s white-ball tour of England, from July 1-19, live on Sky Sports. Not got Sky? Stream cricket and more with NOW.
