Onathan Trott has scored his half-century as well and is looking confident in the middle. He will eventually have to step on the accelerator because his strike rate at the moment is 68.29 and for England to post a score of 310-320, too many dot balls are a luxury they can't afford especially with the batting powerplay coming up. Ravi Bopara has had his nervy moments but he has managed to hit a couple of well-timed boundaries.Umesh Yadav is working up some serious pace and has also managed to bowl the slower deliveries every now and then. India's bowlers have done well as a unit so far.
Jonathan Trott and Kevin Pietersen put together an important 101-run partnership for England.
4.25pm: Pietersen and Trott added 101 runs for the third wicket in quick time. Pietersen was the dominant partner and was hitting the ball really well and looked set to break his century drought in ODIs but that wait continues as he was just trapped in front by Ravindra Jadeja after scoring a well-made 61-ball 64. Pietersen was disappointed with the decision and quite rightly so for he had taken a long stride and the ball hit him on the knee roll. Remember KP is a tall bloke and that was a brave decision from the umpire. Trott now needs to be there until the end of the innings while Ravi Bopara will need to give him good support.
4.05pm: Just when India's fielding is being appreciated, there occurs an embarrassing incident. There was an awful mix-up between Pietersen and Trott but an atrocious throw from Kohli saved
Veteran cricket journalist Ayaz Memon tweets “Pietersen is batting like a million dollars.But he's also known to throw it away with bowlers at his mercy. Will time be different?”
Good time for Pietersen to play an innings of substance and treat each delivery on its merit.
3.55pm: Kevin Pietersen and Jonathan Trott are putting together an impressive partnership for England with the former especially batting brilliantly. Pietersen hasn't been at his best in the 50-over format in recent times and he really needs to carry on not only for himself but also for his team. It's a joy to watch Pietersen bat when he is on song.
Craig Kieswetter played well for his 36 runs before being bowled by Virat Kohli.
3.30pm: India's first change bowler Virat Kohli gives the hosts the second breakthrough as Kieswetter chops a ball on to his leg stump. The ball swung in but Kieswetter should really have been on the front foot. Dhoni's confidence in Kohli the bowler has paid off.
3.22pm: Craig Kieswetter has launched an impressive counter-attack in the last three-four overs hitting three boundaries and two massive sixes. At the other end, Jonathan Trott has been his solid self. Praveen Kumar and Vinay Kumar did well in the first 10 overs for the most part and India's fielding has also been impressive. Most of England's runs so far have been scored on the leg side.
2:45pm: It’s that man again, Vinay Kumar, who is making life difficult for England as he traps Cook plumb in front. Vinay had said the new ball rule is making life easier for the fast bowlers and he is certainly taking advantage of this rule change. Cook, who has found runs hard to come by so far on this tour, wasn’t happy with the decision and he could have had a point there as the ball may have struck him a touch high. But, the umpire felt he was out and it’s his opinion that matters!
England captain Alastair Cook and coach Andy Flower at a practice session on the eve of the match.
Toss: Alastair Cook has won the toss and elected to bat at the Punjab Cricket Association Stadium in Mohali. Both the teams are unchanged, that means Ian Bell still sits out for England and Varun Aaron’s wait for his international debut continues.
Certainly is a remarkable show of faith in the players by Cook and Andy Flower, but it is a surprise that a player of Bell’s caliber is on the bench. England’s middle-order looks fragile without him. The dew factor may affect Graeme Swann’s bowling in the evening.
Jonathan Trott and Kevin Pietersen put together an important 101-run partnership for England.
4.25pm: Pietersen and Trott added 101 runs for the third wicket in quick time. Pietersen was the dominant partner and was hitting the ball really well and looked set to break his century drought in ODIs but that wait continues as he was just trapped in front by Ravindra Jadeja after scoring a well-made 61-ball 64. Pietersen was disappointed with the decision and quite rightly so for he had taken a long stride and the ball hit him on the knee roll. Remember KP is a tall bloke and that was a brave decision from the umpire. Trott now needs to be there until the end of the innings while Ravi Bopara will need to give him good support.
4.05pm: Just when India's fielding is being appreciated, there occurs an embarrassing incident. There was an awful mix-up between Pietersen and Trott but an atrocious throw from Kohli saved
Veteran cricket journalist Ayaz Memon tweets “Pietersen is batting like a million dollars.But he's also known to throw it away with bowlers at his mercy. Will time be different?”
Good time for Pietersen to play an innings of substance and treat each delivery on its merit.
3.55pm: Kevin Pietersen and Jonathan Trott are putting together an impressive partnership for England with the former especially batting brilliantly. Pietersen hasn't been at his best in the 50-over format in recent times and he really needs to carry on not only for himself but also for his team. It's a joy to watch Pietersen bat when he is on song.
Craig Kieswetter played well for his 36 runs before being bowled by Virat Kohli.
3.30pm: India's first change bowler Virat Kohli gives the hosts the second breakthrough as Kieswetter chops a ball on to his leg stump. The ball swung in but Kieswetter should really have been on the front foot. Dhoni's confidence in Kohli the bowler has paid off.
3.22pm: Craig Kieswetter has launched an impressive counter-attack in the last three-four overs hitting three boundaries and two massive sixes. At the other end, Jonathan Trott has been his solid self. Praveen Kumar and Vinay Kumar did well in the first 10 overs for the most part and India's fielding has also been impressive. Most of England's runs so far have been scored on the leg side.
2:45pm: It’s that man again, Vinay Kumar, who is making life difficult for England as he traps Cook plumb in front. Vinay had said the new ball rule is making life easier for the fast bowlers and he is certainly taking advantage of this rule change. Cook, who has found runs hard to come by so far on this tour, wasn’t happy with the decision and he could have had a point there as the ball may have struck him a touch high. But, the umpire felt he was out and it’s his opinion that matters!
England captain Alastair Cook and coach Andy Flower at a practice session on the eve of the match.
Toss: Alastair Cook has won the toss and elected to bat at the Punjab Cricket Association Stadium in Mohali. Both the teams are unchanged, that means Ian Bell still sits out for England and Varun Aaron’s wait for his international debut continues.
Certainly is a remarkable show of faith in the players by Cook and Andy Flower, but it is a surprise that a player of Bell’s caliber is on the bench. England’s middle-order looks fragile without him. The dew factor may affect Graeme Swann’s bowling in the evening.
