India secure series victory as England fail to chase 330 in Pune

England lost both openers cheaply as the Indian seamers varied their pace and line with tremendous effect, and despite a valiant effort from Sam Curran it was the hosts who came out on top

Pune: India 329, England 322-9 - India won by 7 runs

Scorecard

India completed a 2-1 series victory over England with a dramatic seven-run win in the third ODI in Pune.

Rishabh Pant, Shikhar Dhawan and Hardik Pandya all made half-centuries as the hosts racked up 329 after being asked to bat first by England stand-in captain Jos Buttler, before holding on at the death despite a magnificent 95 not out from Sam Curran.

England lost both openers cheaply as the Indian seamers varied their pace and line with tremendous effect and, despite contribitions from the middle order, seemed to be out of the game at 218 for 7.

However, Curran provided an excellent rearguard in partnerships with Adil Rashid and Mark Wood to give the tourists a chance.

Having made only his second List A half-century, thanks in part to being dropped on 22, he left himself needing 14 from the final over. That was too much, though, and India could claim the win on the night and series success.

Earlier, the hosts had been given an excellent foundation by Rohit Sharma and Dhawan, who put on a century stand for the first wicket in 14 overs.

Dhawan went on to make 67, before Pant and Hardik took centre stage.

Clattering both off and leg side, the two middle-order batsman compiled a fifth-wicket stand worth 99 before Pant edged Sam Curran to Buttler for 78. 

Hardik soon followed, bowled leg stump after walking across his crease to try to open up the legside, and India's innings lost steam towards its conclusion.

Given England had chased down 337 with plenty of time to spare at the same venue two days earlier, there would have been concerns within the Indian camp when Jason Roy and Jonny Bairstow walked to the wicket.

But Roy was out to the final ball of Bhuvneshwar Kumar's first over, and Bairstow soon followed to the same bowler - trapped lbw after walking across his stumps - and England had to rebuild.

Ben Stokes (35), Malan (50), Liam Livingstone (36) all made contributions in the middle order but England needed someone to go big, and that innings never arrived. And despite Curran's best efforts - his career-best 95 came from 83 deliveries - India had too many runs on the board.

For the hosts, Shardul Thakur and Bhuvneshwar shone to give captain Virat Kohli victory in his 200th international match as captain.

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