Nagpur: Some phenomenal bowling by Jasprit Bumrah in the final over helped Team India to register a thrilling five-run win over England and level the three-match series 1-1 at the VCA stadium here tonight.With just eight runs needed off the final over, Bumrah produced a magical over to give away just two runs and claimed couple of wickets to keep his team alive in the series after the visitors won the first game of the series.
Chasing 145 to win, the visitors received back to back jolts in the fourth over when left-arm pacer Ashish Nehra dismissed openers Jason Roy (10) and Sam Billings (12) on consecutive deliveries when England were at just 22 runs.England skipper Eoin Morgan (17) and Joe Root then tried to put things in control and the duo added 43 runs for the third wicket before Leg-spinner Amit Mishra sent back the England skipper in the 11th over.
After the skipper dismissal, Root (38) and Ben Stokes put a crucial 52-run stand to inch their team closer towards victory however, Nehra striked at a time when it was most needed and dismissed a well-settled Stokes.With Stokes dismissal, the visitors needed another 28 runs in the last three overs.
With a dangerous Root still not out, the issue seemed to be going in England's way but it was Bumrah who caught him before wicket in the first ball of the final over to bring India back in the game.
The pacer then came out with a brilliant over to deny the visitors a consecutive win as he sent back Joe Buttler (15) three deliveries later and other batsmen Moen Ali (1) and Chris Jordan (0), who remained unbeaten, were unable to achieve the target.For India, Nehra claimed three wickets while Bumrah and Mishra scalped two and one wicket each.Both the teams will now travel to Bengaluru for the final match of the series.(UNI)
