India are finally back to winning ways with a win over England in the first of the two match T20 series at the Subrata Roy Sahara Stadium at Pune.

The stadium hosting its first international match received a treat from the Indian team as they routed England by five wickets. The win has provided some respite for the Indian team after their 2-1 defeat at the hands of England in the Test series concluded recently. It will help them forget the debacle and provide the momentum for the long season ahead.

India skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni won the toss and elected to field first. England got off a brilliant start and looked like they were poised for a huge score. But Indian bowlers did well in the middle overs to cut the run flow and restricted them to 157-6.

In reply, India got off to a brilliant start and showed intent right from the onset. Even though they lost few wickets in the middle, but did not face a problem due to a healthy run-rate.

India eventually romped home within 18 overs.

Here are some of the hits and flops of the match:

India:

Yuvraj Singh: Yuvraj looked like a man on a mission after getting dropped from the Test side. Yuvraj who is always considered as a threat in this format of the game lived up to his reputation. He was responsible for England’s abysmal fall in the middle over. England were cruising at one point of time but it was his fine spell of spin bowling that pegged them back. He took three wickets by giving away just 19 runs. While batting, he came when India lost two quick wickets and took command of the situation. He scored a quick-fire 39 off 21 balls including two fours and three sixes. He was named the man of the match for his all-round show.
 
Ashoke Dinda: Dinda was very good with the ball and was very economical at a time when England batsmen were on a rampage mode. He took two wickets by giving away 18 runs in three overs.

Flops:

Parvinder Awana: Awana’s debut match just did not go his way as he carted all over the park. Awana did not get too many overs to bowl but the two overs that he bowled went for 29.

England:

Alex Hales: Hales was in menacing form and scored the only half-century of the match. He scored 56 off 35 balls and hit seven boundaries and couple of sixes. He was looking good for a century before Yuvraj cut his innings shorts. It was actually his wicket that pegged England in the match.

Luke Wright: Wright played a perfect fiddle to Hales and was involved in a second wicket partnership. He scored 34 off 21 deliveries laced with three four and a six.

Jos Buttler: England after a good start collapsed in the middle overs and did not look like that they would get past 150 runs mark. But then it was some lusty hitting by him that took them to 157. He hit three sixes in 21-ball 33.

Flops:

Micheal Lumb: It was required for him to give England at good start but the opener was out scoring just one. He failed to pick up a delivery from Ashwin and was caught plumb in front of the stumps.

Eoin Morgan: The partnership between Hales and Wright gave the middle order a perfect launch-pad. But the skipper batted irresponsibly and was caught in the deep off Yuvraj’s bowling. He scored just five runs.

Danny Briggs: Briggs playing only in his third T20 match was nailed by Yuvraj for 18 runs in only one over that he bowled. He was hit for two sixes and a four.

By Indian Sports News Network