Hosts Secure Emphatic 10-Wicket Win as India’s Batting Collapses Dramatically
In a stunning display of dominance, England annihilated India by 10 wickets in the first ODI of their three-match series at The Oval on July 12, 2022. The match, which lasted just 43.4 overs in total, saw India crumble to their lowest ODI total against England (110 all out) before the hosts cruised to victory in a mere 18.4 overs.
India’s Batting Implosion
Winning the toss and opting to bat first, Indian captain Rohit Sharma might have regretted his decision early as England’s pace attack exploited overcast conditions. Jasprit Bumrah’s heroics with the ball later in the innings were overshadowed by a catastrophic batting collapse. India lost their top order cheaply, with Rohit (0), Shikhar Dhawan (1), and Virat Kohli (16) falling to Reece Topley (3/22) and David Willey (2/18). Only Hardik Pandya (31) showed resistance, but India folded for 110 in 25.2 overs—their third-lowest ODI total against England.
Ironically, Bumrah (6/19) starred with a career-best spell, becoming the first Indian bowler to take five wickets in an ODI innings in England. His fiery yorkers and seam movement reduced England to 68/6 at one stage, but India’s paltry total proved indefensible.
England’s Ruthless Chase
England’s openers, Jason Roy (56* off 50) and Jonny Bairstow (53* off 51), turned the chase into a highlight reel of aggressive strokeplay. The duo hammered boundaries at will, with Roy smashing 8 fours and a six, while Bairstow’s 7 fours and 1 six sealed the game in under 19 overs. The pair’s 114-run partnership marked England’s highest opening stand against India in ODIs, leaving the visitors shell-shocked.
Captain Reactions
Jos Buttler (England): “A complete performance. The bowlers set the tone, and Jason and Jonny were phenomenal. We wanted to make a statement after the T20 series loss, and this was perfect.”
Rohit Sharma (India): “A day to forget. We batted poorly, and 110 was never enough. Bumrah’s spell was special, but we need to regroup quickly.”
Social Media Erupts
Fans and pundits took to Twitter to react. Former England skipper Michael Vaughan quipped, “India’s batting today: A masterclass in how not to play swing bowling.” Meanwhile, Indian fans lamented the team’s over-reliance on Bumrah, with memes dubbing the match “Bumrah vs 11 Englishmen.”
Looking Ahead
The defeat raises questions about India’s middle-order stability ahead of the 2023 World Cup. For England, the win reinforces their white-ball supremacy. The teams head to Lord’s for the second ODI on July 14, where India will seek redemption, while England aim to clinch the series.
Key Stats:
- Bumrah’s 6/19: Best ODI figures by an Indian in England.
- England’s 10-wicket win: Their largest margin against India in ODIs.
- Roy-Bairstow: Fourth 100+ ODI partnership as openers.
Will India bounce back, or will England continue their dominance? One thing’s certain: this series is far from over.
