England captain Jos Buttler said Rishabh Pant, and Hardik Pandya took the game away from the hosts while adding that his team should have got more runs after managing to score only 259 against India, who chased the target down with 47 balls to spare.
Jos Buttler rues batting effort after India win ODI series vs England (Reuters Photo)
HIGHLIGHTS
- Rishabh Pant, Hardik Pandya took the game away from us: England captain Buttler
- Buttler said his team should have got more runs after managing to score only 259
- Buttler lauded Reece Topley, saying he was delighted for him to do well
England captain Jos Buttler regretted a poor batting performance against India while saying that Rishabh Pant and Hardik Pandya took the game away from his side in Manchester on Sunday. Pandya’s all-round brilliance and Pant’s 125 not out off 113 balls carried India to a five-wicket win in the one-day international series decider against England on Sunday. India won the series 2-1.
Pandya dismissed Jason Roy and Ben Stokes in an outstanding opening burst in the third and final ODI before returning to take the wickets of Liam Livingstone and Jos Buttler in the same over to finish with an ODI-best 4/24.
India vs England, 3rd ODI: Highlights
“I thought we were short on runs. We needed a good start with the ball so that was fantastic. We created chances but two guys took the game away from us, that’s where we lost the game. Not concerned about batting. All summer, in T20s and ODIs we haven’t batted our best. We just need to bat longer,” Buttler said in the post-match presentation ceremony.
Buttler top-scored with 60 off 80 balls in England’s 259 all out in 45.5 overs, but that was put in the shade by Hardik’s 71 off 55 deliveries in a decisive 133-run stand for the fifth wicket with Pant at Old Trafford.
While pacer Reece Topley (3/35) followed up his England record of 6/24 on Thursday with the prize wickets of Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan and Virat Kohli, Pant and Pandya expertly led the recovery when India appeared in real trouble at 72/4. The pair offered chances but grew in confidence with temperatures reaching 30 degrees Celsius.
“(Topley) He’s been brilliant. Got his opportunity, and was delighted for him to do well. (Why only 7 overs for Topley) We were trying to search for ways to get wickets. It’s been a tough schedule too. Reece is probably creaking a bit as well, so we need to manage our players,” Buttler further said.
“(Pant) When you give players a chance (missed stumping) they will hurt you. Hardik too, a half chance. The score we put up, we were going to need to take all our chances. (Being a keeper captain) I’ve found it fine, to be honest. Missed a chance today but don’t think it’s anything to do with my captaincy. (Adil Rashid returning for SA series) We move on quickly. He’s been one of our most important players so would be good to have him back,” Buttler added.
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