1st ODI: Debutants Prasidh Krishna and Krunal Pandya shine as India thrash England by 66 runs

Debutant Prasidh Krishna is cheered by teammates after he picked a wicket during the first ODI against England at Pune. Image: BCCI

Xtra Time Web Desk: A stellar performance from debutants Prasidh Krishna (54/4) and Krunal Pandya (58 off 31) guided India to 66 runs win over England in the first ODI at MCA stadium in Pune on Tuesday. The win gives Virat Kohli and his boys 1-0 lead in the three match series. After going in for plenty initially, Kolkata Knight Riders medium pacer Prasidh Krishna bounced back, picking 4 wickets. His spell read 8.1-54-4 . Krunal Pandya too played a crucial knock of 58 not out off 31 balls to see the score past the 300 runs mark. It was also the fastest fifty by a debutant in ODIs for India. He also shared an unbeaten partnership of 98 runs for the sixth wicket.

Earlier put into bat, under fire Shikhar Dhawan produced a brilliant 98 runs innings. Chasing 318, England got off to a blazing start as openers Jason Roy and Johny Bairstow made full use of the power play overs and the visitors scored 89 runs without losing a wicket inside the first ten overs. Bairstow and Roy eventually put on 135 runs for the first wicket inside 15 overs.

Bairstow went past his half-century, but Roy (46) ended up missing the milestone as he was sent back to the pavilion by Prasidh Krishna. This was Krishna’s first wicket in ODI cricket. In his very next over, Krishna sent Ben Stokes (1) back to the pavilion, reducing the visitors to 137/2. Bairstow (94) also missed out on his century as he was dismissed by Shardul Thakur with England still needing 149 runs for the win. The Mumbaikar also saw the back of England skipper Eoin Morgan (22) and Jos Buttler (2), reducing the visitors to 176/5. Sam Billings and Moeen Ali then formed a 41-run stand for the sixth wicket but with 101 runs away from victory, Billings (18) ended up losing his wicket to Krishna, reducing England to 217/6 in the 33rd over. Eventually the visitors were bowled out for 251 in 42.1 overs, handing India a comprehensive 66 runs victory.

Both sides will meet each other in the second ODI on Friday at the same venue.