By Andy Jalil at Edgbaston
In association with INVESTEC

Andy Jalil at Edgbaston In Association with INVESTEC © Pakistan Cricket Website

Birmingham –The curtain of drizzle that cloaked Edgbaston for much of the day eventually drew back for the much anticipated Champions Trophy final to get underway. The late start at 4.20pm local time forced the match to be reduced to a mere 20-over bash and despite that, the ground remained practically full of spectators, not surprisingly consisting predominantly of India supporters who saw their team lift the trophy with a 5-run victory.

Having been set a modest target of 130 England, after losing Alistair Cook in the second over for 2, seemed to be progressing well with Jonathan Trott looking in good form. He confidently struck two boundaries early in his innings of 20 from seventeen balls before stepping out of his crease to be stumped.

After the third wicket fell on 40 a controversial decision by the third umpire swung the match towards India. Ian Bell on 13 was given out after considerable deliberation with the replay being quite inconclusive. There was sufficient doubt for the benefit to be given to the batsman but that was not to be and England were 46 for four in the ninth over.

The highest stand of the innings followed with Eoin Morgan and Ravi Bopara putting on 64 from 55 balls. But Ishant Sharma, who had been a little expensive hit back with wickets from consecutive balls. Morgan on 33 from 30 balls mistimed his pull and was held at mid-wicket and Bopara who had two sixes in his 30 from 25 balls pulled into the hands of square leg.

England had been much in control needing just 19 from 15 balls on 110 for five before Morgan and Bopara were dismissed but they seemed to lose their nerve losing two wickets in the nineteenth over with Jos Buttler bowled first ball and Tim Bresnan run out. With that England lost 3 wickets for 3 in a space of eight balls to leave the ecstatic Indians celebrating.

England had made one change from the side that beat South Africa in the semi-final, bringing in all-rounder Bresnan for the pace bowler Steve Finn while India remained unchanged from their victorious team against Sri Lanka. The toss had taken place earlier in the day when there seemed a chance for a scheduled start and India were asked to bat.

Rohit Sharma and the man of the tournament Shikhar Dhawan who have given their side a great start throughout the tournament, looked for quick runs straightaway and after 19 from 3.5 overs, Sharma on 9, played just outside the line of a ball from Stuart Broad and lost his off stump.

Two overs later there was a brief stoppage with the drizzle back again but on return to the pitch Dhawan struck a six over cover point off Broad. But with the total on 38 for one after 6.2 overs the teams were back indoors with the rain having got steadier. Meanwhile it was announced that the scheduled time for the end of the game had been extended by 75 minutes to 8.30pm local time.

On resumption Dhawan swept James Tredwell and then cut him to take boundaries off consecutive balls but with India’s 50 having come up from 49 balls, Dhawan fell to the second ball from Ravi Bopara which he whacked off the back foot for a catch at extra cover.

On 64, James Tredwell claimed the third wicket when Dinesh Karthik skied his shot behind the wicket-keeper for Morgan to run from fine leg and take the catch. Two runs later India lost two wickets both went to Bopara who at that stage had 3 for three in three overs. He had Suresh Raina caught at mid-off for one and MS Dhoni went without scoring when he cut into the hands of third man, it reduced India to 66 for five from 13 overs and England looked in control.

Virat Kohli picked up two consecutive boundaries off Bopara to take his score to 28 and gradually settled into a 47-run stand with Ravi Jadeja. Kohli took his score to 43, from 34 balls, with a six over point before England struck again as James Anderson had him held.

With the seventh wicket falling to a run out on 119 Jadeja hit out in the last over to remain unbeaten on 33 from just 25 balls which included two sixes and two fours and guided India to 129 for seven. Bopara was the pick of the bowlers with 3 wickets for twenty.

(Article: The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author only.
Copyright © 2013 Andy Jalil)