Jos Buttler lamented Phil Salt’s run-out as a sliding doors moment for England as familiar failings surfaced of their defeat to India, who drew first blood within the ODI series in Nagpur.
Salt crashed 43 off 26 balls, including 26 off one Harshit Rana over, to propel England to 75 without loss within the powerplay but he was dismissed after a mishap between the wickets with Ben Duckett.
In the subsequent over, Rana dismissed Duckett for 32 and Harry Brook for a three-ball duck to depart England 77 for 3 before they stumbled to 248 all out after patient fifties from Buttler and Jacob Bethell.
After India overcome a late wobble to seal a four-wicket win, Buttler admitted England being unable to seize the initiative for long enough has been a continuing theme on the tour, having lost the T20 series 4-1.
Jos Buttler
“Salt and Duckett got here out and played brilliantly in that powerplay, they put the opposition under numerous pressure,” the England captain said.
“We actually had the momentum at that time and absolutely once we’ve got it, we’d like to proceed to maintain putting the opposition under pressure for longer.
“I feel that’s been the story for us thus far – how can we keep that momentum going for a bit longer after we’ve got it? And after we’ve got it, hold on to it.
“We were probably one other 40 or 50 runs (short) on that total – with the way in which the wicket was turning at the top, we’d have been in a superb position to attempt to win the sport.”
Joe Root made 19 in his first ODI because the 2023 World Cup before he was lbw after his defences were breached by a fizzing delivery from wily slow left-armer Ravindra Jadeja.
England didn’t should contend with mystery spinner Varun Chakravarthy, the player of the T20 series, as India brought back their big guns – with Virat Kohli absent due to a right knee injury – but Jadeja was a continuing menace to complete with outstanding figures of 9-1-26-3.
Jacob Bethell
In addition to snaring Root, Jadeja dismissed Bethell but only after the 21-year-old gave one other reminder of why he’s so highly-rated, showing the composure and self-restraint that a few of his team-mates didn’t.
While Buttler (52 off 67 balls) steadily ticked over, Bethell initially struggled to pierce the gaps and was eight off 27 deliveries at one point before whipping Hardik Pandya for six then finding some rhythm with conventional and reverse sweeps.
He got to 51 off 64 deliveries before missing a slog sweep and given lbw on review off Jadeja, who then castled Adil Rashid, but Buttler was impressed by what he had witnessed from Bethell.
“I used to be watching him bat and saying ‘I couldn’t remember tips on how to bat at 21’,” Buttler said. “It took me till I used to be about 28, I feel! I’m really pleased for him.
“He didn’t find it easy at the beginning but he was very mature, measured, soaked up some pressure and got here through it. He’ll learn rather a lot from this, it’s a extremely good experience.”
India’s Chase
India slipped to 19 for 2 – with captain Rohit Sharma out for 2 as his lean patch continued – but Shubman Gill anchored the chase with 87 off 96 balls, putting on a game-changing 94 off only 64 deliveries with Shreyas Iyer.
Iyer contributed 59 off 36 balls and Axar Patel 52 off 47 deliveries in a 108-run union with Gill but Rashid took two quick wickets and Saqib Mahmood one as India slipped from 221 for 3 to 235 for six.
India ultimately crept slightly than cruised over the road with 11.2 overs to spare in Brendon McCullum’s first ODI as England’s all-format head coach, with their preparations for the Champions Trophy starting in underwhelming fashion.
Buttler, though, was pleased by the never-say-die spirit from his bowlers.
“Whatever rating you get, you’ve got to attempt to consider it’s enough, make things occur and check out to create wickets,” Buttler added.
“At 19 for 2 within the powerplay, the sport was within the balance. But Shubman Gill and Shreyas Iyer put together a superb partnership.
“(Iyer) selected to tackle our aggressive bowling with some really positive shots. That was the sport in a nutshell.”
READ MORE: England fail to construct on good start and lose ODI series opener to India in Nagpur
