India in spot of bother

Late flourish by Virat Kohli and Ravindra Jadeja after flurry of wickets guided India to a fighting 129/7 in the rain-hit Champions Trophy final clash at Edgbaston. After England invited India to bat, persistent rain reduced the summit clash to 20 overs per side. Openers Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma gave cautious start to India in the overcast condition. However, unlike previous matches, the opening pair failed to shine this time.

Stuart Broad gave England first breakthrough in the fourth over by bowling out Rohit Sharma (9). Broad’s perfect length delivery sailed into the stumps from the gap and reduced India to 19/1.
Rain returned after Rohit’s dismissal to stop the final clash when India were 38/1. After almost half-an hour delay, Dhawan and Kohli resumed India’s fight and took the side to 50 in the ninth over.

However, just after India reached 50, Ravi Bopara ended Dhawan’s challenge, triggering India’s collapse. Dhawan (31) was caught by James Tredwell in the ninth over after his 24-ball knock, studded with two boundaries and a six. Dhawan’s wicket was followed by quick wickets of Dinesh karthik, Suresh Raina and MS Dhoni. And from 50/1, India were reduced to 66/5. James Tredwell gave India third blow by removing Dinesh Karthik after his 6-run knock. Karthik swept Tredwell straight up in the air only to be caught by Eoin Morgan.

Bopara then sent back Suresh Raina (1) and skipper Indian MS Dhoni (0) in the 13th over to leave India half down.