England To See Off India In T20 Series At Bristol

England bounced back from their defeat in the opening T20 match of their series against India with a five-wicket win at Sophia Gardens. After the Three Lions were put under pressure by the tourists’ bowlers, it was the home side who turned the tables.

Eoin Morgan’s men limited India to just 148 runs from their 20 overs, with Virat Kohli top scoring with 47. MS Dhoni led a late surge to score 22 runs off the final over of the innings, striking Jake Ball to the boundary with regularity.

India were able make inroads into the England batting line-up, dismissing Jason Roy, Jos Buttler and Joe Root cheaply. However, Alex Hales steadied the ship to guide his team over the line. The 29-year-old held the innings together, scoring a half-century off 39 deliveries.

It was a complete contrast to the first match of the series where India’s spinners put the home side in a tangle. On this occasion it was the seamers who enjoyed a strong outing, bottling up the tourists’ talented batting line-up for the majority of their innings.

The result leaves the series tied at 1-1 going into the final match at Bristol, where both teams will be desperate to start the summer with a victory heading into the one-day internationals.

Top England Batsman

Hales came to the fore when his side needed him the most. He played a calm innings in the middle, keeping his composure when others around the 29-year-old lost theirs. In the opening match of the series, Hales was beaten by the spin of Kuldeep Yadav, losing his wicket to a misread sweep across the line. However, he was able to find his rhythm against the spinners by knocking them around the ground. Hales saved his onslaught towards the end of the innings, blasting a six and a boundary in the closing stages to guide his side over the line.

Joe Root has looked far from his best during the limited-overs format in the summer. Expect him to come under threat from Ben Stokes for his place in the side. Stokes will add another left-hander to the mix in England’s batting order. Captain Morgan has been hit and miss, scoring fifties against Australia, although he has followed it with a slew of low scores. He has shifted himself up and down the order and could arrive as early as number three. Morgan has the shots around the ground to punish the India bowlers. Therefore take him at odds of 7.00Bet €100 to win €7006/1Bet £100 to win £700+600Bet $100 to win $7006.00Bet HK$100 to win HK$7006.00Bet Rp100 to win Rp700-0.1667Bet RM100 to win RM700  to be England’s leading man with 888 Sport.

Top India Batsman

The tourists struggled with the bat in the middle at Sophia Gardens. The openers have not found their rhythm against the Three Lions as both Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan failed to fire. Shara made just five from nine balls before he fell to Ball, while Dhawan was run out. Lokesh Rahul was unable to build on his century in the opening game, and even Kohli and Dhoni were not overly comfortable in the middle. Only one over from Dhoni made a late surge to guide India to a competitive total.

There will be pressure on the top order to bounce back from their disappointing outing at Bristol. Dhawan is under a little bit of pressure for his opening spot. He made 74 against Ireland in India’s warm-up match, but has found himself short of form in the opening two matches making a combined 14 runs. The 32-year-old has the quality to find his rhythm at the crease, although Dhawan is not renowned for his striking ability. With the Test and ODI series to come, Dhawan will be keen to register a score before those matches begin. Dhawan has odds of 4.33Bet €100 to win €433333/100Bet £100 to win £433+333Bet $100 to win $4333.33Bet HK$100 to win HK$4333.33Bet Rp100 to win Rp433-0.3003Bet RM100 to win RM433  with BetVictor.

Top England Bowler

England’s bowlers put forward a fine outing at Sophia Gardens. David Willey set the tone with the new ball, while Liam Plunkett and Chris Jordan were accurate. Rashid continued to display the reason why he has becoming one of the leading spinners in the limited-overs game, removing Raina and going for just 29 runs in his four overs. Ball had a decent start to his opening T20 match, but then was smacked for 22 runs in his final six deliveries. He could come under pressure for his place in the side for the final contest as Sam Curran could come into contention.

Plunkett has continued to lead the attack, being a hit for just 17 runs in his four overs. He has displayed the balance of his pace and bounce, while using his variations when needed. India’s batsmen were not able to find a rhythm, including Rahul who was bowled for six. Plunkett has a solid reputation of picking up key wickets. Therefore back Plunkett to lead the way with odds of 5.00Bet €100 to win €5004/1Bet £100 to win £500+400Bet $100 to win $5004.00Bet HK$100 to win HK$5004.00Bet Rp100 to win Rp500-0.2500Bet RM100 to win RM500 with BetVictor.

Top India Bowler

India’s bowlers were not given a great total to defend and although they battled, they were unable to stop England getting over the line. Bhuvneshwar Kumar was the pick of the bunch as he tied down the Three Lions’ batsmen for long periods of the game before Hales exploded into life towards the end of the contest. Kumar is a seamer that should suit English conditions perfectly. He has exposed the Three Lions in the past with his guile and movement off the seam.

However, Kumar has also down the nous and the experience to vary his pace, preventing the home side’s batting line-up from sizing him up down the ground. He notched the important wicket of Jonny Bairstow to offer his team a glimmer of hope last time out. However, back Kumar on this occasion to lead the wicket column at odds of 5.00Bet €100 to win €5004/1Bet £100 to win £500+400Bet $100 to win $5004.00Bet HK$100 to win HK$5004.00Bet Rp100 to win Rp500-0.2500Bet RM100 to win RM500  with 888Sport.

Match Verdict

England were surprised by India’s spinners in the opening match of the series. However, they bounced back well enough by using their nous with the ball to limit India’s formidable line-up to a mediocre total. The Three Lions appeared to find their rhythm with bat and ball at Sophia Gardens, therefore back them to secure the series with another win at Bristol at odds of 1.90Bet €100 to win €1909/10Bet £100 to win £190-111Bet $100 to win $1900.90Bet HK$100 to win HK$190-1.11Bet Rp100 to win Rp1900.9000Bet RM100 to win RM190  with BetVictor.

Tips Summary

Eoin Morgan To Be England’s Top Batsman
Sunday 8th July 2018 14:00 BST
Odds: 7.00Bet €100 to win €7006/1Bet £100 to win £700+600Bet $100 to win $7006.00Bet HK$100 to win HK$7006.00Bet Rp100 to win Rp700-0.1667Bet RM100 to win RM700

Shikhar Dhawan To Be India’s Top Batsman
Sunday 8th July 2018 14:00 BST
Odds: 4.33Bet €100 to win €433333/100Bet £100 to win £433+333Bet $100 to win $4333.33Bet HK$100 to win HK$4333.33Bet Rp100 to win Rp433-0.3003Bet RM100 to win RM433

Liam Plunkett To Be England’s Top Bowler
Sunday 8th July 2018 14:00 BST
Odds: 5.00Bet €100 to win €5004/1Bet £100 to win £500+400Bet $100 to win $5004.00Bet HK$100 to win HK$5004.00Bet Rp100 to win Rp500-0.2500Bet RM100 to win RM500

Bhuvneshwar Kumar To Be India’s Top Bowler
Sunday 8th July 2018 14:00 BST
Odds: 5.00Bet €100 to win €5004/1Bet £100 to win £500+400Bet $100 to win $5004.00Bet HK$100 to win HK$5004.00Bet Rp100 to win Rp500-0.2500Bet RM100 to win RM500

England To Beat India 3rd T20
Sunday 8th July 2018 14:00 BST
Odds: 1.90Bet €100 to win €1909/10Bet £100 to win £190-111Bet $100 to win $1900.90Bet HK$100 to win HK$190-1.11Bet Rp100 to win Rp1900.9000Bet RM100 to win RM190