Shubman Gill’s seventh ODI hundred helped India win the match – beating England by 142 runs in the third and final ODI in Ahmedabad on Wednesday. With the win, India completed a 3-0 series clean sweep, giving a perfect ending to their Champions Trophy preparations.
Gill’s brilliant knock of 112 off 102 balls was the highlight of India’s 356/5, which also featured contributions from Virat Kohli (52) and Shreyas Iyer (78). The score proved too much for England, who were bowled out for just 214 in 34.2 overs. Arshdeep Singh (2/33), Harshit Rana (2/31), Axar Patel (2/22) and Hardik Pandya (2/38) picked up two wickets each to seal a sensational win.
England got off to a flying start with Ben Duckett (34) and Phil Salt (24) scoring fine knocks but they crumbled under the pressure of India’s spinners. Duckett was dismissed by a clever knuckle ball from Arshdeep after hitting several boundaries. Soon after, Salt was also caught by Arshdeep off a slower delivery. Tom Banton scored a quick 38 in his first ODI against India but it was not enough to change the course of the match. Joe Root (24) and Harry Brook (19) fell cheaply and India’s bowlers kept up the pressure, causing England’s resistance to wane quickly.
Earlier, Gill’s brilliant century held India’s innings together. His 112-run knock included three sixes and 14 fours, further cementing his claim as one of the premier batsmen in the format. The century took his ODI average above 60 and was also a special achievement for him as he became the first player to score a century in all three international formats at the Narendra Modi Stadium. Kohli found his rhythm after a slow start and scored a solid 52, though he was dismissed by Adil Rashid after surviving a close leg-before appeal early in his innings.
Despite Gill’s promising start, Rohit Sharma (1) departed early and Iyer missed out on a hundred, caught behind off Rashid for 78. Hardik Pandya (17) and KL Rahul (40) added valuable runs in the end but England had no answer to India’s all-round display.
India’s second-biggest win in ODIs in terms of runs underlined their dominance, with the team’s impressive performance setting them up for a successful period ahead.
