India vs England: ICC Champions Trophy 2013 - Report

India pulled off a thrilling five-run win at Edgbaston to lift the 2013 ICC Champions Trophy. The reigning ICC World Cup champions held their nerve in the 20 over-a-side game to beat England in the final at Birmingham and added another feather in their cap. (Also read: India vs England: ICC Champions Trophy 2013 - Statistical Highlights)

After Virat Kohli and Ravindra Jadeja’s sixth wicket, 47-run partnership helped set England a 130-run target, MS Dhoni managed his bowling resources cleverly to defend the total. Under the windy conditions and grey skies the Indian bowlers bowled to plan and claimed wickets at regular intervals to pull off a win. After Umesh Yadav struck early, Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja and Ishant Sharma picked two wickets each. (Also Read: I told boys that God helps only those who help themselves: MS Dhoni)

Earlier, Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan had done well against the fast bowling of James Anderson and Stuart Broad who were charging in from opposite ends. But Broad struck soon to end the stand for 19 as he claimed Rohit’s wicket. (Also Read: Shikhar Dhawan dedicates his Golden Bat award to flood victims in Uttarakhand: CT13)

But Dhawan continued to strike the ball fluently despite couple of rain delays. But a well-judged catch by Tredwell at extra cover off Ravi Bopara dismissed India’s in-form opener. Two overs later, the off-spinner claimed Dinesh Karthik, and then Bopara dealt a double-blow with a maiden in the over next. While Raina perished offering a catch to mid-on, MS Dhoni’s upper-cut was pouched safely by Tredwell at thirdman to leave India on 66 for five. (Match Pics)

Jadeja joined Kohli in the middle, and the duo stemmed the fall of wickets and clawed their way back into the game.  With India on the back foot, Cook reintroduced his ace bowler, Anderson, who conceded only a single. But Kohli, who had watched as wickets fell quickly at the opposite end, then took charge and smashed Bopara for two boundaries. Dropped on 36, India’s No.3 bat pulled Broad for six into the stands in the same over. And Jadeja hit Anderson for a six in the next.

But then, Kohli, while attempting another big hit, was caught by Bopara at long-off for 43. Ravichandran Ashwin came in with nine balls left, but was run out in the last over. However, Jadeja, with a six off Tim Bresnan, helped add 12 runs in the over and took India to 129.

Defending the total, Umesh Yadav struck in the second over. Alastair Cook edged the pacer to Ashwin in the slips and brought out Jonathon Trott to join Ian Bell in the middle. 25 runs later, Ashwin got the better of Trott in his first over. The off-spinner then followed up with the wicket of Joe Root couple of overs later, while Jadeja sent back Bell in the next to tilt the match in India’s favour.

With spinners getting purchase from the wicket, Dhoni handed the ball to Raina but could not break the Eoin Morgan-Bopara stand. While Morgan held up one end, Bopara swung his bat clearing the boundary to keep the required run-rate in check. Ishant Sharma did well in his latter overs, and was on a hattrick in the 18^th over after getting rid of Morgan and Bopara off consecutive balls.

Needing 19 off 12 England were in a precarious position with two new batsmen – Jos Buttler and Tim Bresnan – at the crease. Jadeja then castled Jos Buttler to keep the match hanging in balance. And soon Bresnan was run out. 

With 15 required off the last over, Ashwin conceded only nine to restrict England to 124 for eight.

Brief scores: India 129/7 in 20 overs (V Kohli 43, R Jadeja 33*, R Bopara 3/20) beat England 124/8 in 20 overs (E Morgan 33, R Ashwin 2/15, R Jadeja 2/24, I Sharma 2/36) by 5 runs

Man of the Match: Ravindra Jadeja for his game-changing all-round performance of 33* and 2/24

Golden Ball: Ravindra Jadeja for his 12 wickets

Golden Bat: Shikhar Dhawan for his 363 runs

MS Dhoni "When we were batting I just said get close to 130. The shower helped us because the ball was gripping later on. It's important to be positive. I said 'we are the No. 1-ranked team, let's play like that'. I knew the two-overs of Powerplay were crucial. I wanted to make them slog off the spinners. They all handled the pressure really well, in international cricket people talk about technique but it's the ones that deal with the pressure."

The Man of the Match is Ravindra Jadeja: "I did well throughout the tournament and I was very positive. It was quite difficult to rotate the strike, so myself and Virat just tried to build a good partnership. I was enjoying the bowling on this wicket. The skipper always backs me when I bowl." Jadeja also wins the golden ball for the bowler with most wickets in the tournament.

Shikhar Dhawan wins the golden bat. "I'd dreamt of this, I'm really happy with it. The bouncy tracks suit my game. I worked hard in practice and in the warm-up games. It makes it more special because I was out of the side for a few years." Dhawan dedicates his award to the people caught up in the flooding in India at the moment.

Alastair Cook: "The first credit has to go the groundstaff to get a game. We've come up a little short. I though we bowled well, you'd take 130. It's tough to take at the moment. I think both sides found the pitch quite hard to bat on. You are always going to think of different reasons. I'm proud of the way the players have performed in this tournament. With 20-odd needed off 16 balls it was in our hands. There have been a lot of good performances, but at the moment we are a bit devastated."

Shikhar Dhawan "Doing well overseas has been wonderful."

Ishant Sharma: "I was quite nervous, things were not going my way but I hold my nerve. I've done it times in the past so maybe that's why he [Dhoni] thought I could do it. We have to say thanks to the crowd, they have been tremendous, there are no words for them."

source: bcci.tv, cricinfo.com