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India vs England: 1st Twenty20 International

  • England secured a comfortable victory over India in the first of a three-match T20 International series.
  • Eoin Morgan and Joe Root combined excellently at the crease to guide England to a seven-wicket victory.
  • Tymal Mills took the first wicket of his international career, while Moeen Ali took two wicket for just 21 runs.
  • India never really sparked into life and were comfortably second best both with the bat and in the field.
  • England: Jason Roy, Sam Billings, Joe Root, Eoin Morgan, Ben Stokes, Jos Buttler, Moeen Ali, Chris Jordan, Liam Plunkett, Adil Rashid, Tymal Mills.
  • India: KL Rahul, Virat Kohli, MS Dhoni, Yuvraj Singh, Manish Pandey, Hardik Pandya, Suresh Raina, Parvez Rasool, Yuzvender Chahal, Ashish Nehra, Jasprit Bumrah.
Joe Root and Eoin Morgan
Root and Morgan led England to their most comfortable victory of the tour. Getty Images

That brings to the end our coverage of England's comprehensive victory over India.

Have a very good afternoon.

Moeen Ali was named the Player of the Match but was quick to pay tribute for his team: "As a bowling unit we were fantastic. We are pleased to go one up but there are two big games left to go. I took a bit of confidence from the ODIs, but just tried to bowl a length."

Eoin Morgan: "Moeen Ali showed great resolve on a wicket that didn't really turn. The bowlers made it difficult for the Indian batsmen on a small ground.

"Sam Billings and Jason Roy did outstandingly well, Sam in particular has taken his chances when he's had the opportunity."

Kohli: "The opposition can upset you at any stage, we need to address what we want to and not take much stress from this. We won't put too much pressure on our youngsters and will place responsibility on our seniors so the young ones can enjoy."

Virat Kohli: "England played better cricket than us today, they deserved to win. They bowled good hard lengths with extra pace and bounce. We would have liked to execute that but we were about 30-35 runs short on that wicket. There are things we need to address."

England have secured back-to-back victories over India by achieving victory with 11 balls to spare in Kanpur. Eoin Morgan's men bowled intelligently and batted expertly to comprehensively defeat Virat Kohli's side, who never really got going.

Joe Root and captain Morgan's batting partnership put paid to the host's chances of victory after Yuzvendra Chahal bowled Jason Roy and Sam Billings, while Moeen Ali took two wickets from 21 runs to tighten England's grip on proceedings. Tymal Mills also took the first wicket of his international career on only his second appearance for his country, but it was Root who guided England to a fully deserved victory.

England defeat India by seven wickets in the first of a three-match T20 International series

Eighteenth over - England 147-3.

Root edges his side closer to victory with some big shots. His first two efforts were well fielded - he and Stokes and ran two on both occasions - but he eventually hit Nehra for two consecutive fours, both exploiting midwicket.

Root added a tidy single to leave England needing just one run from two overs.

Seventeenth over - England 132-3

Root survives a scare after Bumrah had found a way to his wickets. The umpire ruled that the fast bowler had overstepped and subsequently gave a no-ball. Bumrah then bowled Root again, but he survived due to it being a free hit.

Sixteenth over - England 129-3

India finally got their man but it seems too little, too late. Morgan was caught on 51 but his replacement does not weaken England's partnership on the crease by any stretch of the imagination. He left just after delivering a wondrous six, too.

Stokes opened his tally with a single, Root got two, unfussed by the dismissal of his partner.

Morgan's excellent stint at the crease comes to an end, and he becomes the third batsman to be bowled straight after hitting a six in Kanpur today.

The captain was always reaching for that Parsool delivery, and is replaced by Ben Stokes.

Wicket - Morgan (51) c Raina b Rasool (England 126-3)

Fifteenth over - England 120-2

Chahal, who dismissed both Roy and Billings, steps up for his last over. Root tapped his first offering into the covers before Raina miraculously prevented a six from Morgan with an outstanding piece of fielding.

The captain only received two runs because of Raina, but worked a single to left side straight after. He and his partner Root then hit singles to keep them on course for victory.

Fourteenth over - England 114-2

Rasool steps up to the plate. Root hits his delivery through to long-off for one run, while Morgan complements his partner by finding a gap in midwicket.

Morgan then unleashes a Hollywood shot over long-on to hit six. The captain just flicked the ball away before working a single into off side. Root then touched another delivery behind square to give his side 11 runs for the over.

Thirteenth over - England 103-2

Morgan starts the over with a nice and easy single to leg side after Pandya threw a wide ball. Root then finds the boundary with a sublimely executed drive into the covers before his captains touches one into backward point.

Root ends the over with another single into mid-on.

Twelfth over - England 94-2

Root begins with clever running off a reverse sweep to earn two. He then flicks a single to leg before Morgan batters the ball and launches it over wide long-on for six. He then adds a tidy single.

The pair go on to add a single each as India's chances of victory decrease further.

Eleventh over - England 82-2

Pandya replaces Chahal in attack for India but Morgan guides his first delivery to third man. Root then runs in two before working a single to the leg side, before his partner does the same.

Root ends the over by working a single to third man. England are ticking along nicely.

Tenth over - England - 76-2

Chahal is back at the crease but Root quickly knocks him for a boundary with a fierce drive through the covers. He then pushes another one out to cover before Morgan steals his thunder and with a cracking six thanks in no small part to his excellent hand technique.

Morgan's next strike is a tad more understated, clipping to long on, but the damage was very much done beforehand.

Ninth over - England - 64-2

The expensive Bumrah returns to the crease but does well to initially limit Morgan during the first half of the over. The Irish-born batsman hits one into the crease for a single before Roots adds another, but that was all she wrote in a solid but unspectacular over for both teams.

Eighth over - England 62-2

Morgan picks up from where he left off in the last over by driving one into cover before Root hits a Raina delivery through the gap at mid-on.

Morgan hits a single around the wicket before Root exploits mid-on again. The captain then reaches for a boundary but India's fielders are able to prevent the four.

Seventh over - England 57-2

Morgan gradually opens up his range and sends a Rasool delivery for a four with a classy inside-out, controlled shot. He then adds a single to the leg side before Root does the same on the opposite side.

Morgan then runs two after tucking one off the pads before guiding a comfortable single to mid-on. England back on track.

Sixth over - England 48-2

A very understated over, Chahal cannot wreak the same havoc. Morgan and Root don't open up, both record singles as they look to wrestle back control and stifle the Kanpur crowd.

Fifth over - England 46-2

Root and Morgan play it safe and restore some order to England's play. Root flicks one out to deep square leg before Morgan drives for another run.

Rasool did not have the same effect for India as Chahal but limited to England to just three runs, Root pulling a ball round the corner for a single to finish the first quarter.

Fourth over - England 43-2

It all started so well. Roy sent Chahal's opening delivery for six but the leg spinner struck back immediately to bamboozle his opponent, who drove into his own stumps.

Billings then ended up yorking himself from another teasing Chahal delivery and in doing so swung the pendulum right back in India's favour. Game on.

It's all going wrong for England!

Billings is Chahal's latest victim. He comes out to drive across the line but ends up yorking himself. The momentum England had built up has all but dissipated. Morgan replaces Billings, who will need to steady the ship and fast.

Wicket - Billings (22) b Chahal

Just how costly could that be for England?

Roy succumbs to Chahal's spin and ends up driving wildly into his own stumps. He had just hit Chahal for a six, much like Suresh Raina against Ben Stokes. Joe Root comes in to bat.

Wicket - Roy (19) b Chahal

Third over - England 36-0

It's Roy's turn to silence the crowd in Kanpur. He runs two before unleashing a ferocious six that whistles over long off. The ball is changed but India's problems lie deeper than that.

Roy cushions a single to the leg side, before Billings again replicates his cohort, like he did in the first over. Roy ends another fantastic over for his country with another single, once again to the leg side. What a start for England.

Second over - England 24-0

Billings hits a Bumrah delivery for four and showcases his good hands to get the elevation required. The England opener then gets lucky with another boundary, but in the end it's an easy putaway for him.

He then runs two after fencing a ball down to third man before launching one over fine leg for a six. Great inventiveness from Billings, who stepped across his stumps and ended the over by hitting the unlucky Bumrah for another four, this time with a fierce short arm pull through square leg. Great over for Billings and England.

First over - England 4-0

Roy kicks England off by driving to cover for two. Kohli takes his eyes off the ball at the crucial moment and lets it slide past him. Roy then guides another ball delivered by Nehra down to third man for a single before Billings does the exact same thing. Decent start for England.

The team are back out, with England to bat. Can Morgan's men reach 148? Roy and Billings are beginning the chase.

Final over - India (147-7)

An incredibly eventful final over for Dhoni! He runs two before punishing a Jordan yorker by finding the boundary with consummate ease. Dhoni then hits Jordan for four with the very next ball with a powerful strike to left cover.

The illustrious batsman tries to bat India to a total of 150, but Jordan bowls excellently and limits his opponent's chances of finding the boundary. Rasool was run out in order for Dhoni to remain on strike, but he couldn't add a substantial amount of runs in the final few balls. India should've finished around 170, but England have done tremendously well so far and have a target of 148 to win.

Dhoni tries for another boundary but his fierce drive is met by Morgan who throws it straight to Jordan. Rasool essentially gives up his wicket so Dhoni can remain on strike.

Wicket - Rasool (5) run out (India 145-7)

Nineteenth over - India 135-6

Dhoni cuts a single through point to start the penultimate over. Rasool then pulls a single through mid-on before his experienced partner swats one towards short fine leg before squeezing one away to leg side. Rasool then manages to conjure up a single before Dhoni pulls one into leg side again. England are bowling very well.

Eighteenth over - India 128-6

Rasool guides one through midwicket before Dhoni clips one between long-off and deep midwicket for two runs. The returning Chris Jordan then tests Dhoni with a yorker before the veteran hits one to long-on. The former India captain finished the over with a single, pushing one through to long-off.

Seventeenth over - India 122-6

Mills back to showcase his speed and claims Pandya with a short delivery. Dhoni tries to steady his side's ship by pushing through for one. Parvez Rasool, Pandya's replacement, ran a single before running one down to third man, while Dhoni stabs one towards point for his 15th run. His presence will prove vital in the dying stages.

Tymal Mills gets the first wicket of his international career. Pandya skies a short delivery which was inevitably caught by Billings with relative comfort. India not at the races today.

Wicket - Pandya (9) c Billings b Mills (India 118-6)

Sixteenth over - India 117-5

Stokes returns for his fourth over. Pandya goes for the boundary again but England's fielders manage to take the pace off the drive. Dhoni does manage to hit Stokes for four, though, with a classic cover drive. Stokes throws three wide balls while Dhoni clips a single off the pads. Pandya then picks one run up through cover point.

Fifteenth over - India 106-5

Plunkett replaces Ali and manages to bring down his economy rate with a low score over. Pandya was denied a boundary by Stokes and had to make do with just two before running a single off the face.

Fourteenth over - India 103-5

England tighten their grip on proceedings by claiming a fifth wicket. Pandey was dismissed for just three runs for lbw, with Ali causing problems for the Men in Blues once again. Pandey's replacement, Pandya, managed to push through outside off while Dhoni punches a single down the ground, but this particular was very much won by England and the tricky Ali.

Pandey tried to play the leg but got a little tangled up and was called out with just three runs to his name. Looks a good call from the umpire. Hardik Pandya replaces Pandey. Ali strikes again.

Wicket - Pandey - (3) lbw Ali (India 98-5)

Thirteenth over - India 98-4

Stoke returns to the crease after angering himself with his last spell with the ball. He enjoyed this over, though, despite being hit for six. Raina hit one delivery high into the sky for the first six of the evening but Stokes came back with a sublime yorker to swing the pendulum in his side's favour. Raina's replacement Pandey manages to knock three runs, but things are hotting up in Kanpur.

Suresh Raina meets his bitter end just one ball after hitting Stokes for six. The Durham man bowls the 30-year-old behind the legs. England make a huge breakthrough. Manish Pandey replaces Raina.

Wicket - Raina (34) b Stokes (India 95-4)

Twelfth over - India 88-3

Raina tucks one into leg side before Dhoni finds midwicket and runs for two. He then works one off the legs for one run before Raina flicks off the pads for a tidy single.

Eleventh over - India 82-3

India lose their third wicket but the experienced partnerhsip of Dhoni, who replaced Singh, and Raina manage to regroup. Both hit singles before Raina drills the ball wide of mid-off for a boundary, before scooping into leg side for another single.

An excellent running catch from Rashid ends Singh's spell at the crease. Required an examination from upstairs but was always going to be called out. Singh spiralled one into the air and Rashid was on hand to make an excellent diving catch. The expensive Plunkett reaps rewards.

Wicket - Singh (12) c Rashid b Plunkett (India 75-3)

Tenth over - India 75-2

Ali replaces Stokes at the crease. Singh fires one leg side for a single before Raina pushes a delivery towards long-on for one. Singh then pumps one down through the ground for four before dispatching another through midwicket for a single.

Ninth over - India 68-2

Raina comes out in hope of a boundary but England have a man deep to cut it off. Both Singh and Raina end up getting some joy out of Stokes, though; Singh managed to run three with a drive straight to mid-off while Raina eventually hits four with a controlled effort that goes wide of third man.

Eighth over - India 58-2

Raina works one to leg while Singh pushes a few through the ground. The Men in Blue seem to have lost all momentum while England's bowling changes look to be paying off. Finely poised.

Morgan does extremely well to take in a fierce Kohli drive. The India captain stepped out and changed his leg position in the hope of a boundary or more but did nothing but pick out midwicket. Yuvraj Singh replaces him.

Wicket - Kohli (29) c Morgan b Ali (India 55-2)

Seventh over - India 55-1

Ben Stokes takes over from the ailing Plunkett but Kohli quickly pushes a delivery down to the ground for a single. Raina and Kohli then run for two to hit 50 before both hitting singles through cover point and third man respectively.

Sixth over - India 47-1

This time it's Raina's turn to punish Plunkett with two excellent boundaries. Rashid had the chance to limit the damage but couldn't stop the ball going for a four despite getting round from third man. Raina then steps out to clear one to the fence.

Fifth over - India 36-1

England find the breakthrough courtesy of Jordan's change of pace. Rahul will be disappointed with how simple it was to dismiss him. Raina, India's most experienced player after MS Dhoni, steadies the ship and runs a single.

A simple catch for Rashid after Rahul goes to pull and slices a high Jordan delivery into the air. Jordan has bowled intelligently so far. Raina replaces Rahul.

Wicket - Rahul (8) c Rashid b Jordan (India 34-1)

Fourth over - India 33-0

Plunkett replaces Mills and is immediately hit for two consecutive fours by Kohli, who punishes his deliveries with some gorgeous shots. Rahul and the captain add a couple more as the Yorkshire bowler gets into the swing of things. Good start for India.

Third over - India 22-0

Mills back on bowling duty and manages to deliver a 92mph ball at Rahul, who plays safe and registers four runs, while captain Kohli adds another through the gully. Mills seemed a little frustrated at Morgan who gave Kohli the chance to run a second.

Second over - India 16-0

Kohli slogs over mid-on for another boundary and guides one through midwicket to add a single. Nothing to report from Rahul. Chris Jordan stemmed the flow despite some wayward deliveries.

First over - India 9-0

Kohli opened the scoring at the third time of asking with a customary boundary, but looked irritated after striking a teasing Mills delivery. Rahul also hit a four, again using the pace of Mills to guide it up and over. Productive start for India.

It's time to begin. Kohli and Rahul will open the batting for India, Mills will bowl first for England. Can he showcase his lightning speed from the off?

England and India walk out at the Green Park Stadium to a tremendous roar. It's time for the respective national anthems.

Virat Kohli will open the batting with KL Rahul and try to set an insurmountable target. Great weather conditions for the players today. Start of play just moments away.

Less than 15 minutes remaining until we get underway in Kanpur.

India: KL Rahul, Virat Kohli, MS Dhoni, Yuvraj Singh, Manish Pandey, Hardik Pandya, Suresh Raina, Parvez Rasool, Yuzvender Chahal, Ashish Nehra, Jasprit Bumrah.

England: Jason Roy, Sam Billings, Joe Root, Eoin Morgan, Ben Stokes, Jos Buttler, Moeen Ali, Chris Jordan, Liam Plunkett, Adil Rashid, Tymal Mills.

Both captains have given their reaction to the toss.

Morgan: "I'm hoping the surface is going to be a good one. With the possibility of dew later on, it's probably going to be a good batting track."

Kohli: "Does it matter in T20? I would've bowled first to be honest. It's a good batting surface. It should be a high scoring game."

England win the toss and elect to bowl first

A moment to remember for the all-rounder, whatever the outcome today.

Are England taking their eye off the ball a touch?

Not long now until the all-important toss.

England have lost six of their last seven matches against India in both Test and one-day formats, but captain Eoin Morgan says his side are coming into today's T20 international with renewed confidence after their win in Kolkata.

"I think confidence is the big word in T20 cricket, confidence and momentum," Morgan told The Indian Express. "At the moment the guys are feeling lot more confident than they were after game two.

"They were doing a lot of hard work and did not get much reward. Having had a win under our belt, we are looking forward to the three-match T20 series in what could potentially be very exciting."

Eoin Morgan
Getty Images

T20 clashes are always tough to predict. India have won five of their last eight home matches in this format, but England have beaten them in two of their three away T20 internationals.

The match is taking place at Green Park in Kanpur, a venue known to favour batsmen rather than bowlers. Perhaps the location was in the minds of both sides when they decided to rejig their bowlers.

India have made changes to their bowling personnel, too. The Men in Blue have rested Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja, with leg-spinner Amit Mishra and off-break bowler Ravindra Jadeja replacing them.

Mills will add much-needed pace to England's bowling arsenal - his deliveries have been known to reach speeds of around 95mph - but India captain Virat Kohli is not perturbed by the prospect of the Sussex left-arm.

"Well, I have faced 90mph before," Kohli told The Guardian. "I can maybe comment further on him after I've played him. But 90mph is not a problem at all. I have faced many 90mph bowlers before."

Tymal Mills
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Joe Root is available for England after missing their consolation victory in the last one-day international of the three-match series with a minor knock but David Willey will not feature in Kanpur after suffering a shoulder injury while bowling against India on Sunday (January 22).

Explosive bowler Tymal Mills will replace Willey and is set to feature in only his second international for England.

Good morning and welcome to our live coverage of the first of three Twenty20 internationals between India and England. Eoin Morgan's men were victorious in their last meeting over Virat Kohli's side and are hoping to improve their country's recent record over the Men in Blue.

Play is due to get underway at 11am GMT with the toss and team news expected shortly before. IBTimes UK will provide over-by-over updates from Green Park.

Ben Stokes
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