England inflicted yet another defeat upon India as they won the lone Twenty20 international by six wickets at Old Trafford here on Wednesday. The hosts, chasing 166 to win, finished on 169 for four with three balls to spare as Samit Patel struck three fours in as many Vinay Kumar deliveries.
World Twenty20 champions England, who thrashed India 4-0 in the preceding Test series, saw Eoin Morgan take them to the brink of victory with 49. Ravi Bopara (31 not out) and Patel (25 not out) then got England home in front of a packed crowd featuring plenty of vocal India supporters.
But England seamer Jade Dernbach was named man-of-the-match for a brilliant return of four for 22 that restricted India to 165 when the tourists were on course for a much bigger total.
Defeat left World Cup holders India still searching for the first win against England this tour heading into a five-match one-day international series starting at Chester-le-Street on Saturday. But the result gave Stuart Broad his first win as England Twenty20 captain following a nine-wicket defeat by Sri Lanka in Bristol in June in his first outing as skipper.
England, after a brilliant penultimate over from Munaf Patel, needed 10 off the last but Broad told Sky Sports: “The guys felt we had it under control. “Morgan played pretty well, and then for Ravi and Samit to finish it off was pretty special. “We came back at India very well, especially in restricting them to 165 after the start they got.” India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni said his injury-hit side had paid dearly for a lack of bowling options. “We didn’t have a fifth bowler so we had to push harder. “There were a few crucial overs that went for more than 15 runs and it gets a bit difficult after that.” However, Dhoni was confident India could bounce back in the one-dayers, adding: “We’ve had quite a few practice games in the last few days…We’re quite well processed and well prepared for the ODI series.” India, who won the toss, made a blistering start and were 104 for one, with Ajinkya Rahane making 61 off just 39 balls on his Twenty20 international debut.
He received good support from veteran batsman Rahul Dravid, also playing his first Twenty20 international, who made 31 including three sixes in as many balls off left-arm spinner Samit Patel. But once they were out, India — without injured batsmen Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir — saw their innings fall away. Broad took two wickets in an over, importantly having the stylish Rahane skying to Dernbach at third man. India never recovered, with Dernbach removing Dhoni before dismissing Kumar and Munaf Patel off successive deliveries to wrap up the innings with two balls remaining.
