ENG vs IND | Hardik Pandya and Rishabh Pant steal the limelight as India grab the series 2-1

England were up against India in the 3rd and the final ODI of the bilateral series at Old Trafford. Skipper Rohit Sharma won the toss and invited the opposition to have a go with the bat first.

England batting never got the start they needed as Mohammed Siraj, featuring for the first time in the series, managed to dismiss both Jonny Bairstow and Joe Root in the 2nd over. 

Ben Stokes and Jason Roy put up a good 54-run stand for the third wicket, but it was brought to an end by Hardik Pandya before England could turn it into something big.

Jos Buttler and middle-order save the day for England, yet again

Stokes soon followed suit, leaving England at 74/4. Skipper Jos Buttler took things into his own hands, scoring 60 off 80 deliveries to put up two good partnerships with Moeen Ali and Liam Livingstone to see England get over 200.

Craig Overton's short cameo of 32 runs off 33 deliveries at the end saw England finish with 259/10 in 45.5 overs. Hardik was the pick of the bowlers with four wickets to his name.

Also Read: Suryakumar Yadav expresses his gratitude for captain Rohit Sharma

Reece Topley provides England with the dream start

Chasing 260, India had a sluggish start as Reece Topley struck once again, carrying his momentum from the second ODI sending Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan and Virat Kohli back to the pavilion within the first power play leaving India down to 38/3.

Suryakumar Yadav and Rishabh Pant had a 34 runs partnership for the fourth wicket before Overton struck, sending Surya back to the hut. 

Rishabh Pant's magnificent ton humbles England

However, Hardik and Pant changed the game's tide as they built up a 133- run partnership for the fifth wicket to see India get past 200 runs on the board.

Brydon Carse gave England the much-needed breakthrough as he picked up Hardik at 71 off 55 deliveries. 

Also Read: Hardik was shocked by Mumbai's decision: Ravi Shastri

It was too late for England as the damage had already been done as Pant, who brought up his maiden ODI century alongside Ravindra Jadeja, finished the game for India with five wickets in hand to clinch the series.

For his heroics with the bat, Pant was adjudged as ‘Player of Match’ while Hardik walked back with the ‘Player of Series’ title. 

Brief Scores:

England: 259/10 (45.5)

Jos Buttler 60(80), Jason Roy 41(31)

Hardik Pandya 24/4, Yuzvendra Chahal 60/3

India: 261/5 (42.1)

Rishabh Pant 125*(113), Hardik Pandya 71(55)

Reece Topley 35/3, Brydon Carse 45/1

India win by five wickets to clinch the series 2-1