Jofra Archer’s scorching Day 5 spell that propelled England to a thrilling 22-run victory over India at Lord’s didn’t stem from the recollections of England’s 2019 ODI World Cup triumph, however from a totally completely different, and surprising, inspiration: Sourav Ganguly’s shirt-waving celebration after India’s well-known 2002 NatWest Trophy win at the exact same floor.
Ben Stokes hyperlinks Sourav Ganguly’s Lord’s second to Jofra Archer’s inspiration
As rigidity gripped Lord’s on the ultimate morning, with India needing simply over 130 runs and 6 wickets in hand, Archer delivered a fiery six-over spell that shattered India’s decrease order. However off the sphere, it was a second of comedian reduction that stole the present.
After the match within the post-match press convention, Stokes revealed that earlier on the fifth day when he casually requested Archer if he remembered the significance of July 14, the pacer, in basic Archer fashion, responded not with the reminiscence of England’s World Cup win in 2019, however with Ganguly’s bare-chested roar on the Lord’s balcony. Stokes shared the anecdote on the post-match press convention, laughing as he recalled their alternate earlier than the beginning of play:
“I requested Jofra, ‘You realize what day it’s at the moment, proper?’ hoping he’d say it’s our World Cup anniversary. And he goes, ‘Yeah, that was when India chased 300 and Ganguly waved his shirt!’ He genuinely thought that was a World Cup remaining, absolute magnificence, that boy,” Stokes mentioned.
Extremely, whereas the reminiscence was a decade off and the event misidentified, it lit the spark Archer wanted. His bowling was something however muddled. England wanted magic, and Archer delivered it.
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Archer and Stokes rattle Indian batting on Day 5 of the ENG vs IND Lord’s Check
With India at 58/4 and in sight of a historic win, Archer struck gold. He produced a dream supply to knock again Rishabh Pant’s off stump, a ball seaming away late at excessive tempo, sending the stump cartwheeling. Quickly after, he pulled off a pointy return catch to dismiss Washington Sundar, displaying off each reflexes and management below strain. Stokes chipped in by trapping KL Rahul lbw with an ideal inswinger, and similar to that, India’s center order was blown away inside the primary seven overs of the day. The ultimate blow got here when Shoaib Bashir cleaned up Mohammed Siraj, the ball trickling onto the leg stump and simply dislodging the bail — sealing a nervy, unforgettable 22-run win for England.
On the sixth anniversary of England’s 2019 World Cup triumph, it was as soon as once more the Stokes-Archer duo delivering at Lord’s. Archer completed with 3 wickets, whereas Stokes grabbed two, together with the large considered one of Rahul. Chris Woakes and Brydon Carse contributed key strikes earlier, however the defining section belonged to Archer’s hostile burst and Stokes’ well timed interventions. As England now lead the five-match Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy collection 2-1, it’s becoming that on a day meant to commemorate one legendary Lord’s second, it was a flashback to a different that fired up England’s match-winner.
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