England have secured a convincing win over India in the first T20 international of their five-match series in Ahmedabad.
The tourists cruised to a comfortable eight-wicket victory after a poor batting display from India.
England were looking to improve after a disappointing end to the four-match Test series, which they lost comprehensively 3-1.
England are currently the No 1 ranked T20 side in the world and with the T20 World Cup taking place later in the year in India this five-match series would be perfect preparation.
The tourists had the likes of Jason Roy and No 1 ranked T20 batsmen Dawid Malan in their ranks to provide a stern test for India.
Meanwhile, India had Bhuvneshwar Kumar returning as well as Rishabh Pant and Axar Patel – both of who caused England countless amounts of problems in the Test series.
India’s innings gets off to woeful start
England won what looked to be a key toss to win, and elected to bowl first.
They could not have asked for a better start as within the second over, KL Rahul was dismissed after edging a Jofra Archer delivery onto his stumps.
India captain Virat Kohli came to the crease but his poor form in the Test series continued into the T20 series as he was dismissed for another duck. He got out by hitting a shot straight down the throat of Chris Jordan, giving Adil Rashid his first wicket of the match.
The hosts continued to falter as Shikhar Dhawan began to be frustrated and tried to launch Mark Wood down the ground, only to miss completely and be clean bowled for just four runs.
After just five overs India were 20-3 and already in a precarious position.
Pant and Hardik Pandya then began to settle before right on the halfway stage Pant was dismissed by Ben Stokes. Jonny Bairstow pulling off the solid catch, leaving India 48-4 from 10 overs.
Hardik and Shreyas Iyer then began to attack and the latter soon reached a well-earned half-century.
Jofra Archer close to claiming a hat-trick
Hardik was then dismissed, giving England a much-needed wicket, and it was that man Archer again who combined with his Sussex team-mate Jordan, pulling off a superb catch.
Things got even better for the tourists with the very next delivery as Shardul Thakur picked out Malan on the boundary for a routine catch, giving Archer the opportunity of a hat-trick.
The hat-trick was not to be, but England did not let this put them down as Jordan then removed the dangerman Iyer for a well-made 67 after a superb diving catch on the boundary by Malan.
India staggered to the end of their innings with a disappointing 124-7, setting England a comfortable target to chase.
England chase down India’s innings with ease
Roy and Jos Buttler spent no time in getting runs on the board, firing England to 42-0 after just five overs.
Buttler then fell for 28 after being struck on the pads and given out lbw to Yuzvendra Chahal.
Roy was dismissed soon after for 49, just shy of a half-century, after a Washington Sundar delivery had him trapped on the pads.
The Surrey man reviewed the decision, but umpires call on impact meant the decision had to stand.
Despite this, England were never really in danger and some big hitting from Malan and Bairstow saw the tourists reach their target comfortably within 16 overs.
Malan won the match in style with a superb six, ending on 24 not out, with Bairstow looking much more natural in white-ball cricket finishing on 26 not out.
It was a superb start to the T20 series for England, with them looking to show why they are the No 1 T20 side in the world and favourites for the upcoming T20 World Cup.
England will look to go 2-0 up in the series with the second T20 on Sunday at 1.30pm, live on Sky Sports Cricket.
By Josh Mann
