In a Group C game at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata, England won the toss and decided to bat first and got off to a racing start on a good pitch and fast outfield in Kolkata. Philip Salt looked good out there while Jos Buttler went early. Jacob Bethell has also looked fluent. Italy for their part has done well and managed to make inroads to keep things tight. But England ahead in the chase.
England gets off to a solid start despite losing both the openers inside the powerplay.Â
Winning the toss and deciding to bat first, Philip Salt and Jos Buttler came out to open the batting for England while JJ Smuts had ball in hand for Italy. Salt got off the mark in majestic fashion with a flat batted shot back past the bowler for a boundary. Ali Hasan shared the new ball from the other end. Salt took on the bowler as he swivelled and pulled it over backward square leg as the ball sailed over the fence for the maximum. Salt then flicked the ball on the pads between short midwicket and deep forward square leg for a boundary.
Grant Stewart came into the attack next. He struck straightaway as he removed Buttler for a mere 3 off 4 balls. Stewart from over the wicket bowled full on the middle stump line nipping away from the right-hander. Buttler got into the front foot and looked to whip over midwicket. He closed his bat face early and failed to counter the away swing. He got a big leading case towards mid-off which was taken as the fielder backtracked. Jacob Bethell came out to bat next.
Bethell got onto the front foot and bent his big knee onto get pitch of the ball and nailed the extra cover drive for a boundary. Hasan continued as Bethell got a top edge that went towards short third man. Stewart returned as Powell launched the bowler for the maximum. Salt took the attack to the opposition as Salt stood tall and pulled it over backward square leg for the maximum. Hasan came to bowl the final over of powerplay. Hasan got rid of Salt for 28 off 15 balls with 2 fours and 2 sixes to his name. Drinks was taken after which Tom Banton came out to bat next. He got off the mark.
At the end of the powerplay. England were looking good batting at 56/2 in 6 overs of powerplay with Bethell unbeaten on 21 off 16 balls and Tom Banton unbeaten on 1 off 1 ball.
Jacob Bethell falls, but England keep things steady and afloat in the first 10 overs.Â
Crishan Kalugamage came into the attack post the powerplay. Banton rocked back and looked to cut and got the bottom edge between the legs for a boundary. Ben Manenti came into the attack next. He struck straightaway as he removed Bethell for 23 off 20 balls with 2 fours and one six to his name. Manenti bowled much quicker on a length on the off-stump. Bethell got down on one knee and quickly realised that he has not picked the length here. Still he went for the half sweep half pull and dragged it off the top edge straight down the throat of Jaspreet Singh at deep backward square leg.
Captain Harry Brook came out to bat next and got off the mark as well. Banton opened the face of the bat and played the late dab to short third man for a boundary. JJ Smuts came back into the attack. Smuts bowled a tight over with nothing given away. Kalugamage continued as Banton rocked back and got on top of the bounce as he timed the punch delightfully and beat the diving short extra cover to his left for a boundary. At the end of 10 overs, England are 82/3 in 10 overs with Banton unbeaten on 21 off 15 balls and Brook unbeaten on 4 off 6 balls. We were halfway through the innings.
What Lies Ahead.Â
England are still ahead in the game despite Italy chipping away at the wickets. England may want to push for 200+ and keep wickets in hand while Italy hopes to break the stand and peg England back slowly. England still has their noses in front, but Italy putting up a brave fight. Let’s see how this innings pans out.
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