Pune: The ODI series is down to the wire after England beat India to pulp in the second match here on Friday evening to make it 1-1. The series decider will be played on Sunday.
Chasing India’s big total of 336 for 6, England coasted to 337 for 4 in 43.3 overs, thanks to a savage display of power hitting by Ben Stokes and Johnny Bairstow.
Opener Bairstow, who was dismissed in the nineties in the first match, made amends by scoring 124 off 112 balls with 11 fours and 7 sixes.
But it was the brilliance of left-handed Stokes, who toyed with Indian spinners Kuldeep Yadav and Krunal Pandya, that killed Indian hopes of sealing the series with a game to spare.
Stokes plundered 10 sixes and four fours in his 99 which came off just 52 balls as he and Bairstow added 175 runs in 19 overs in a blistering second-wicket partnership.
The English duo’s pyrotechnics overshadowed KL Rahul’s magnificent century (108) and Rishabh Pant’s explosive 77 off 40 balls earlier, which helped India post what looked to be a good total after being asked to bat first.
