Internet Desk: India pulled out a thrilling victory against England, as they beat the visitors by 5 runs in the second T-20 International to level the three-match series 1-1 at Nagpur on Sunday.
Sent into bat, India scored 144 for eight, and then restricted England to 139 for six in 20 overs.
Bumrah (2-20) bowled Jos Buttler (15) on the fourth delivery and never allowed Chris Jordan and Moeen Ali to score the remaining runs in the final two balls as England ended on 139 for 6.
Earlier KL Rahul hit a 47-ball 71 to help India post 144-8 despite England seamer Chris Jordan’s three wickets after the visitors elected to field first.
Nehra hurt the England chase with early strikes after getting openers Sam Billings (12) and Jason Roy (10) on consecutive deliveries of his second over.
England’s most trusted batting pair in skipper Eoin Morgan and Root then got down to resurrect the innings against a persistent Indian spin attack.
Leg-spinner Amit Mishra broke the dangerous-looking stand — 43 runs — after getting Morgan caught at deep midwicket for 17 to claim his 200th T20 wicket.
Mishra would have got another wicket in the same over after getting Ben Stokes bowled, but the spinner was found to have overstepped the popping crease and the delivery was judged a no ball.
Stokes, who hit a 27-ball 38, capitalised on Mishra’s blunder to play a calculative knock, putting on 52 runs with Root.
Nehra got Stokes trapped lbw in the 17th over to raise India’s hopes and Bumrah, who bowled the 18th and the final over, made no mistakes.
In the Indian innings, skipper Virat Kohli, who opened the innings for the second successive time in the series, made a quickfire 21 before falling to Jordan.
Rahul kept his composure at his end busy with runs despite England spinners, Adil Rashid and Moeen Ali, getting a wicket each to reduce the hosts to 69 for three.
Rahul, who hit six 4s and two 6s during his knock, got to his 50 and more before Jordan got the prized wicket in the 18th over as the Indian batting slipped further.
The third match is slated in Bangalore on 1 February.
Brief Score:
India: 144/8 in 20 overs (K L Rahul 71, Manish Pandey 30; Chris Jordan 3/22)
England: 139/6 in 20 overs (Ben Stokes 38, Joe Root 38; Ashish Nehra 3/28, Jasprit Bumrah 2/20).
With inputs from PTI.