Indian cricket fans may find it significant when skipper Rohit Sharma confirmed that Jasprit Bumrah will miss the decider against England in Manchester due to a back injury. However, the replacement of the latter – Mohammad Siraj – also did not disappoint anyone. The Hyderabad pacer justified his selection by bowling a double-wicket maiden to give the visitors a good start in the winning game.
Siraj came into the attack after Shami took a run in the first over. Jason Roy hit three fours to open England’s innings and now Jonny Bairstow strikes. After scoring no runs off the first two balls, the English batsman looked to play a length ball towards the leg-side. However, he got a leading edge which extended towards mid-off.
India vs England, 3rd ODI, Live Score
Bairstow, who has been in the form of his life, went for a three-ball duck.
After a few balls, Siraj struck again and this time, he had the better of star English batsman Joe Root. The right-arm pacer bowled a brilliant delivery that was angling and Root had no option but to play it. The ball swings late, hits the outside edge of Root’s bat and hits Rohit’s hands at slip.
Root also went back with a duck and Siraj claimed a double wicket maiden over.
Great start by Siraj’s over India After deciding to bowl first. This was the third consecutive toss won by the visiting captain Rohit Sharma. Speaking at the toss, the Indian captain informed about the changes made in the playing XI; Jasprit Bumrah misses by a swallow while Mohammad Siraj comes in.
“We are going to bowl first. It looks like a good track and won’t change during the 100 overs. It is the decider of the series and we have played some good cricket on the tour, we have learned from the last game and hopefully will rectify the mistakes. We have bowled well in the limited overs leg, T20 series as well. Hopefully, we can narrow them down to a reasonable target today. Bumrah has a swallow and we don’t want to risk him, so Siraj comes in,” said Rohit at the toss.
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