India edge ahead with timely strikes

25 overs England 121 for 4 (Pietersen 46*, Bairstow 0*) v India
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	Jonathan Trott infused some momentum into England's innings before edging behind off Vinay Kumar © Getty Images Enlarge
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India's Kumars - Praveen and Vinay - did their team a tremendous favour by dismissing England's openers before a run had been scored, thereby forcing a slow start from the visitors at the Feroz Shah Kotla on a flat pitch with a quick outfield and short boundaries. Despite being reduced to 3 for 2 after four overs, though, England found the boundary 16 times in the first 25 overs, an indication of what might have been if not for India's three early strikes.

Alastair Cook had hoped to make best use of a surface he felt would get slower as the match progressed but his first-over dismissal was a huge setback to those plans. The fourth ball off the match, from Praveen, was short and wide and Cook cut it straight to Ravindra Jadeja at point. While Praveen was fortunate to strike with an ordinary delivery, Vinay produced a sharper ball in the second over to dismiss Craig Kieswetter - it bounced and seamed away from the right-hander and took the outside edge of the tentative prod to a wide first slip.

At 0 for 2 in second over, Jonathan Trott and Kevin Pietersen were forced to be careful. Trott defended and Pietersen shouldered arms repeatedly, getting settled as India's seamers moved the ball both ways.

The release came in the fifth over, when Trott took advantage of Praveen losing his lines. He stepped out to swat a short and wide ball though cover, glanced off his pads to fine leg and square drove a full ball through backward point. Pietersen got of the mark as well, flicked off his pads through square leg for the over's fourth boundary. England were away.

Trott did most of the scoring, driving confidently through the region between backward point and extra cover when offered width, and whipping off the pads as well. Trott had helped England score 45 runs off 5.5 overs when he fell off the last ball of the mandatory Powerplay - pushing forward at one that seamed away from Vinay and edging behind.

At 48 for 3, India had the upper hand, but England recovered through a 73-run partnership between Ravi Bopara and Pietersen. Once again it was Pietersen's partner who made the early play - driving Vinay through backward point and hitting three fours in Umesh Yadav's opening over - the first of the bowling Powerplay.

Pietersen began to find his timing after spin was introduced, sweeping R Ashwin to the boundary - his second in 30 balls - and lofting Jadeja twice over his head for sixes. England were rebuilding their momentum rapidly when Ashwin trapped Bopara lbw. Bopara was gone for 36 off 50 balls and how the rest of the batsmen fared against the spinners would decide the outcome of the contest.