Varun, Abhishek Help India to 7-Wicket Win

Hosts canter to the target of 133 in 12.5 overs and take a 1-0 lead in the 5-game T20I series vs England

- Somshuvra Laha

KOLKATA: With a packed infield, a wide slip and a gully, Arshdeep Singh made the ball climb up on Phil Salt from length and England were straightaway told scoring wouldn't be easy despite the dew. Mohammad Shami wasn't picked but the Eden Gardens pitch had enough smattering of grass to make Hardik Pandya pitch the ball slightly fuller. He swung the ball in, and then out, but Jos Buttler was getting to the pitch of the ball and taking his chances. Couple of dazzling fours and a wicket in the first two overs set the tone of a typical T20 slugfest where neither side tried to hold back till India ran away with the game, courtesy Abhishek Sharma who plundered 79 runs off just 34 balls.

Buttler persevered in a typically inimitable style but barring his stabilising 44-ball 68, England lived on edge. Ben Duckett speared the ball trying to flick Arshdeep. Jacob Bethell was denied width till he decided to throw the kitchen sink at Pandya, only to be caught at deep midwicket. Harry Brook and Liam Livingston couldn't read Varun Chakravarthy's mystery spin. Five of the top seven batters were caught as England crawled to 132. In reply, India cantered to the target with seven wickets (and 43 balls) to spare and took a 1-0 lead in the five-match series.