James Taylorand Jos Buttler dug England out of deep trouble with a match-winning century partnership to set up a Tri-Series final with Australia on Sunday.
It looked like India would reach the showpiece at England’s expense when Taylor and Buttler joined forces at 66 for five from 20 overs in pursuit of 201 at the WACA Ground.
Yet the sixth-wicket pair, both young in one-day international terms particularly in comparison to India’s World Cup holders, belied relatively few caps with a stand worth 125.
Although late on man-of-the-match Taylor fell for 82, his fourth fifty in 10 ODIs, and Buttler for 67, his sixth half-century in 48 games, England completed a three-wicket win with 19 balls to spare.
Buttler rode his luck while injecting impetus to the innings, surviving three run-out chances and being dropped at slip.
However, he and Taylor worked wonders on an uneven pitch that began to deviate towards the end of India’s innings.
In a James Anderson over Mahendra Singh Dhoni was hit flush on the helmet by one that reared sharply and pinned lbw by one that kept low.
The variable bounce also accounted for several of England’s top-order, hastening the Taylor-Buttler alliance.
Crucially, Buttler began by scoring at around a run a ball while Taylor accumulated steadily throughout his innings.
The result sees England, who beat India in both their round-robin games, face Australia at the same venue in two days, which will be less than two weeks before they meet again at the start of the World Cup.
England’s batting troubles started early when Ian Bell perished in similar fashion to Dhoni, albeit without a helmet blow, against Mohit Sharma who was playing his first game of the series in place of injured fellow seamer Ishant Sharma.
The 10-over powerplay score was similar to India’s at 35 for one, but Moeen Ali holed out off Akshar Patel and in the next over Stuart Binny had Joe Root caught and bowled.
Morgan, perhaps unnerved by more variable bounce, was soon Binny’s second victim via a miscue to mid-on and Bopara tamely fell to the medium-pacer at backward point.
Buttler’s first let-off was early in his innings and he was then shelled at slip after reverse-sweeping Ravindra Jadeja.
Taylor went to his fifty from 86 balls just before the mandatory powerplay was forced, and during the fielding restrictions Buttler’s milestone arrived in 59 deliveries.
Their hundred partnership was the only one of the match.
Taylor top-edged Mohit to fine-leg two overs before Buttler holed out to deep cover off Mohammed Shami with eight still needed.
Chris Woakes and Stuart Broad stayed calm to seal victory, which came via a Jadeja no-ball.
Like in Brisbane, India lost a position of batting strength although this time after an unchanged England won the toss.
Openers Ajinkya Rahane and Shikhar Dhawan rode their luck to put on 83 as England initially failed to maximise humid conditions.
Woakes missed a chance to run out Dhawan for nought when he could not hit the striker’s stumps from close range after gathering the ball in his follow-through.
Dhawan and Rahane continued to live dangerously in the early overs, but their running between the wickets improved.
India reached 50 in the 14th over and, although that rate stayed much the same, their opponents were relieved when Woakes had Dhawan caught behind for 38 with the first ball of his second spell.
Rahane advanced to a 71-ball fifty shortly before Virat Kohli, promoted to three, became the first of Moeen’s two wickets in as many overs. Kohli holed out to long-off and an advancing Suresh Raina edged to backward point.
Broad had his first wicket of the series when Ambati Rayudu nibbled behind at a short ball.
Steven Finn struck in the next over, the start of the mandatory powerplay, as Rahane attempted to play to third man but feathered behind on 73.
Bell’s stunning slip catch, diving full-length to his right, gave Finn the scalp of Binny during the fielding restrictions.
Dhoni was the first of three wickets in as many overs as Broad ousted Jadeja and Finn removed Akshar for figures of 3-36.
Shami threw caution to the wind in a last-wicket stand worth 35 while Mohit twice survived run-out chances.
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Post-match reaction
Man of the match James Taylor said: “We are delighted with the win, especially to get into the final with Australia. Credit to Jos Buttler, an outstanding game from him.”
On his innings of 82, he added: “I was trying to concentrate on my own game. I was struggling out there, I wasn't feeling my best. Jos Buttler' innings was outstanding, he kept me going and did a great job.
“I knew if I was there at the end we would be there or thereabouts. Thankfully Jos played an outstanding innings in the middle to help me go.
“It was a decent cricket wicket, the uneven bounce made it interesting and gave the bowlers something to work with. It was a tough challenge but I am so glad we got over the line in the end.”
Taylor added: “I have been waiting in the wings for a few years now to get my opportunity and that is what I am here to do.
"I am trying to get myself settled in the side and trying to put in performances like that to win games. That is the most important thing, me trying to get my side over the line and I managed to do that today.”
Congratulations to @jamestaylor20 who is named MOTM for his magnificent 82! #triseries #ENGvIND pic.twitter.com/beDdlW04Lu
— England Cricket (@ECB_cricket) January 30, 2015
England captain Eoin Morgan said: “We certainly made it difficult for ourselves. I think both sides battled with the conditions and it was difficult throughout the game, which we did not expect at the start.
“I always had a lot of confidence that if guys got themselves in they would take on responsibility.
“It is an area of our game we have improved on over the last six months and the guys showed it tonight. They were ruthless tonight when they got in, Jos and James were outstanding and ruthless in the chase.”
When asked about Buttler, Morgan said: "I think there is a lot more to come. We have seen a lot of him in county cricket and in the nets you get to see his full repertoire, which is great to see. His talent is up there with anyone else in the world. Hopefully he will fulfil it.”
He added: “It is a great opportunity to play in a final. Australia have been on a good run and it is always nice to play Australia because it is a good test of where you are at. Sunday will be no different.”
India skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni said: “Maybe a few more runs initially would have helped us. But, to some extent, it was good bowling and poor selection of shots and we were under pressure.
“That is the main reason why we were not able to score maybe 40-45 runs more, the minimum we were looking for.”
England innings
ENGLAND WIN!!! They beat India by 3 wickets at the WACA! #triseries#ENGvINDpic.twitter.com/MdDyaT4nHZ
— England Cricket (@ECB_cricket) January 30, 2015
10.55am – ENGLAND WIN BY THREE WICKETS TO REACH TRI-SERIES FINAL!! Eng 201/7; Woakes 4, Broad 3 – England get there with 3.1 overs to spare thanks to four singles and a Jadeja no-ball. Morgan’s side owe much to Taylor and Buttler, who shared a match-winning 125 for the sixth wicket. England will be back at the WACA Ground on Sunday to face Australia in the showpiece. Join us for that!
10.46am – WICKET! Buttler c Rayudu b Shami 67; Eng 193/7 – Buttler survives another run-out opportunity before holing out to deep cover. With eight still needed to win, Stuart Broad joins Chris Woakes in the middle. Broad is greeted by some Shami chin music, including a no-ball, but both batsmen then take a single. Five runs to win from four overs.
10.38am – WICKET! Taylor c Binny b Mohit 82; Eng 191/6 – Taylor top-edges to fine-leg where Binny does well to hold on. The sixth-wicket stand was worth 125. England still need 10 to win. Mohit completes a wicket-maiden.
10.35am – CHANCE! – Buttler unfurls a trademark reverse-sweep off Jadeja and then completes a quick single by the skin of his teeth, a direct-hit going for four bonus overthrows. At the end of the over England want 10 runs from 42 balls.
9 - James Taylor and Jos Buttler have recorded @ECB_cricket's 9th ODI century stand for the 6th wicket. 3 have involved Buttler. Recovery.
— OptaJim (@OptaJim) January 30, 2015
10.25am – HUNDRED PARTNERSHIP!– The first of the game arrives. Taylor, who gets four more through midwicket off Jadeja, and Buttler have worked wonders!
10.21am – FIFTY! Buttler (59b 6x4 0x6) – After Taylor finely sweeps Akshar for four, the outstanding Buttler strikes Mohit for two successive straight fours. What an innings this has been from the wicketkeeper-batsman! The powerplay yields 22 for none, so England need 38 from the last 10 overs.
10.16am – England’s scoring slows during the first three powerplay overs but they keep wickets intact, with 53 more runs needed from 12 overs.
10.04am – At 141 for five from 35 overs, the mandatory powerplay is forced. If England have the better of the next five overs, surely they will win?
9.54am – FIFTY! Taylor (86b 2x4 0x6) – The dimuitive right-hander takes a quick single to mid-on, which moves him to a valuable half-century.
9.41am – Buttler, who is playing brilliantly, guides Jadeja to the third-man boundary. At the end of the over, the 30th, in which Buttler and Taylor’s fifty partnership arrives, England are 119 for five. In the next, Buttler cover-drives the returning Mohit for four.
9.31am – CHANCE! – Buttler neatly cover-drives Jadeja for four to take England into three figures but, later in the over, reverse-sweeps to slip where he is nearly caught. That would have been an unusual dismissal.
9.24am – Buttler is scoring at a run a ball with support from Taylor against Ravindra Jadeja’s spin and Shami. England are 92 for five from half their overs.
9.13am – CHANCE! – Taylor takes a risky single into the covers and Jos Buttler would have been comfortably run out had Ajinkya Rahane hit the stumps. Buttler responds by flicking a leg-side four.
9.05am – WICKET! Bopara c Jadeja b Binny 4; Eng 66/5 – After Taylor cuts Akshar for four, Ravi Bopara attempts a repeat off Binny but offers a simple catch at backward point.
8.57am – WICKET! Morgan c Dhawan b Binny 2; Eng 54/4 – Morgan, perhaps unsettled by the uneven bounce in the previous over, drives on the up and is caught at mid-on. England are in a spot of bother now.
8.46am – Binny has a close lbw shout against Eoin Morgan turned down, perhaps due to height on a fairly bouncy WACA Ground wicket. It certainly is bouncy as Akshar proves with two consecutive balls that rear remarkably at Morgan, who somehow survives both. Taylor ends the over with a slog-swept four.
8.39am – WICKET! Root c & b Binny 3; Eng 44/3 – Joe Root departs cheaply to Binny’s medium pace, putting the game in the balance.
8.31am – WICKET! Moeen c Rayudu b Akshar 17; Eng 40/2 – Left-arm spinner Akshar Patel succeeds Mohit and strikes in his second over, Moeen holing out to long-off. Rayudu takes a low catch but hardly celebrates, at first suggesting he had spilled it.
8.23am – England move to 35 for one from the 10-over powerplay. India were 34 without loss.
8.15am – Moeen and Taylor appear content to progress sensibly against two threatening seamers before Taylor plays and misses with an expansive drive versus Shami. Moeen pulls off perhaps what Taylor was trying to with a square off-side four.
8.02am – James Taylor has joined Moeen in the middle. Taylor lost his footing when he played Shami to leg, but no harm was done. Mohammed Shami has replaced Binny.
7.50am – WICKET! Bell lbw Mohit 10; Eng 14/1 – The pitch started to misbehave late in India’s innings and it’s continuing to do so. Bell is undone by a short ball that keeps very low and is trapped in front, just as Mahendra Singh Dhoni was.
7.42am – Fit-again Mohit Sharma, playing his first game of the Tri-Series, starts with a threatening over. Bell then unfurls a textbook cover-drive, along the ground, against Binny.
7.34am – The chase is under way with Stuart Binny bowling to in-form Ian Bell, who uppishly cover-drives the seamer for a sweet four.
India innings
WATCH: Ian Bell's stunning catch to dismiss Stuart Binny: http://t.co/8xoHvErXQmpic.twitter.com/ZP8clteO86
— Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) January 30, 2015
6.54am – WICKET & END OF INNINGS! Shami c Buttler b Woakes 25; Ind 200 all out; Mohit 7 – Shami edges a Woakes slower delivery behind to end the innings with 11 balls unused. Despite a last-wicket stand of 35, England will be pleased with that score.
6.50am – CHANCE!– Anderson, taking a throw from the deep in front of the non-striker’s stumps, misses an opportunity to run out a diving Mohit. Anderson had to reach behind him for the stumps but could not break them.
6.42am – CHANCE!– Mohammed Shami and Mohit Sharma resist with an off-side four each, between which Moeen would have run out the latter with a direct-hit from cover-point. Shami makes the most of Mohit’s let-off by swinging Woakes over square-leg for six and lacing four through backward point. India are 189 for nine with three overs to go.
WICKET! Nine down as Bell takes another diving catch to dismiss Patel. Three for Finn. http://t.co/auS0JUpifTpic.twitter.com/7sxZHlKI8S
— Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) January 30, 2015
6.34am – WICKET! Akshar c Bell b Finn 1; Ind 165/9 – India are falling apart, like they did against England at Brisbane. Bell shows he can take slip catches to his left too, sending left-handed Akshar Patel on his way.
6.29am – WICKET! Jadeja c Finn b Broad 5; Ind 164/8 – Ravindra Jadeja charges at Broad and tamely top-edges to mid-on. With wickets already falling, that was a rash shot.
WICKET! Anderson traps Dhoni plum LBW for 17. India now 164-7 on Sky Sports 2 HD: http://t.co/auS0JUpifTpic.twitter.com/ds6R3V9oZW
— Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) January 30, 2015
6.26am – WICKET! Dhoni lbw Anderson 17; Ind 164/7 – Dhoni is hit flush on the helmet by an Anderson brute that reared alarmingly from the first ball of the 43rd over, whose last delivery keeps low and traps the right-hander plumb in front. The pitch is starting to misbehave.
6.15am – Bell almost replicates his stunning take, this time getting finger tips to a Dhoni edge that goes for four. The powerplay cost India 33 for two.
WOW! Ian Bell does his best Steve Smith impression. Binny becomes Finn's second wicket. India 6-152. #ENGvINDpic.twitter.com/UqpzO0z8c6
— FOX SPORTS Cricket (@FOXCricketLive) January 30, 2015
6.10am – WICKET! Binny c Bell b Finn 7; Ind 152/6 – A brilliant catch from Ian Bell, diving full-length to his right from wide slip to oust Binny! That came after Dhoni upped the ante for India, slashing and cutting Broad for fours.
6.03am – Dhoni, batting with Stuart Binny who clipped Woakes through midwicket for four in the previous over, survives when he chips Finn just short of mid-on.
5.53am – WICKET! Rahane c Buttler b Finn 73; Ind 136/5 – Finn, who has taken over from Moeen, strikes in the first over of the powerplay and it’s Rahane to go. The right-hander attempts to run the ball to third man but feathers behind.
5.46am – WICKET! Rayudu c Buttler b Broad 12; Ind 134/4 – Broad’s persistence is rewarded with his first wicket of the Tri-Series. Rayudu nibbles at a short ball and nicks behind. Broad, bowling to India skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni for the rest of the over, sends down a wicket maiden. The powerplay is then enforced.
...and an excellent one-handed catch in the crowd. Almost a bigger cheer for that than the shot...
— BBC TMS (@bbctms) January 30, 2015
5.39am – Broad proves expensive in the 33rd over when Rayudu hits him aerially down the ground for four before hooking the innings’ first six. India are 131 for three.
5.29am – With Broad replacing Finn, Rahane immediately advances and smashes four down the ground, India’s first boundary in 11 overs.
5.23am – WICKET! Raina c Woakes b Moeen 1; Ind 107/3 – Suresh Raina goes in similar fashion to how he did in England’s win at the Gabba. There he was stumped. Today he advances and edges a simple catch to backward point. Ambati Rayudu dives first ball to survive a run-out half-chance.
Kohli's ODI average of 51 drops to 38 against England. They don't fear him.
— Rory Dollard (@thervd) January 30, 2015
5.14am – WICKET! Kohli c Root b Moeen 8; Ind 103/2 – The pressure England are building, with Finn now partnering Moeen, tells as Kohli picks out Joe Root at long-off.
5.05am – FIFTY! Rahane (71b 2x4 0x6) – The right-hander moves to a measured half-century with a single to leg off Woakes. Rahane needs to kick on to justify his steady scoring thus far. India reach three figures at the end of the over.
5.04am – Woakes stops a Kohli drive in his follow-through as the ball painfully strikes the inside of his right wrist. The seamer has on-field treatment and a drink but is able to continue his over.
4.57am – Moeen and Woakes follow up the wicket-maiden with further tight overs. England will have wanted more wickets by now after winning the toss, but will be happy with India’s total.
Vital wicket-maiden breakthrough from @crwoakes19, well bowled!! #Ind 83-1 after 21 overs. #EngvInd#triseries#CWC15pic.twitter.com/11yFMXDhD3
— England Cricket (@ECB_cricket) January 30, 2015
4.46am – WICKET! Dhawan c Buttler b Woakes 38; Ind 83/1 – After Rahane edges Moeen for the first four in five overs, the returning Woakes strikes first ball back as Dhawan plays away from his body and under-edges to wicketkeeper Jos Buttler. Woakes completes a wicket-maiden, bowling to Virat Kohli who has been promoted to three.
4.36am – Moeen Ali succeeds Broad with his spin and starts with a tight over. England are at least keeping their opponents in check. India are 69 for none in 18 overs.
4.30am – India’s openers are running well between the wickets, regularly rotating the strike as well as scoring the odd four. England need a breakthrough.
4.16am – India reach 50 in the 14th over, an impressive effort from Rahane and Dhawan, who then cuts Broad to the boundary. Finn has an lbw shout against Dhawan turned down, the ball pitching outside leg, and the left-hander follows up with a cover-driven four.
4.07am – Dhawan inside-edges Broad narrowly past his stumps for four. For a game not involving Australia, there’s a reasonable crowd at the WACA Ground with vocal support for India. Steven Finn, who demolished India in the previous Tri-Series meeting, replaces Anderson.
3.59am – Anderson continues but Stuart Broad takes over from Woakes, Rahane flashing his second ball through the covers for four. India are 34 without loss from 10 overs. That’s a decent effort from Rahane and Dhawan in tricky conditions.
3.50am – Anderson and Woakes can’t quite find the right length to really trouble the batsmen, although India aren’t scoring that fast and are living slightly dangerously for their runs.
3.42am – After an Anderson maiden Rahane and Dhawan up the ante, the latter cutting Woakes for four in an over costing nine.
3.35am – Anderson and Woakes deliver tight second overs, the latter gradually finding the fairly full length he needs to really test the batsmen. In other news Australia captain Michael Clarke is set to continue his comeback from a hamstring injury by playing in a club game this weekend as a batsman only and then in Australia’s World Cup warm-up with Bangladesh on Thursday.
3.26am – CHANCE!– Chris Woakes soon tests Shikhar Dhawan, who is nearly run out. The left-hander dropped the ball at his feet and started out on a quick single only to change his mind. Woakes gathered in his follow-through and would have had Dhawan with a direct-hit.
3.20am – We’re off with James Anderson bowling to Ajinkya Rahane in humid conditions. The pitch has a green tinge to it. Anderson gets early movement in an over costing one run.
Pre-play news
The view from the press box at the WACA as England take to the field. Come on lads! #EngvInd#triseriespic.twitter.com/krPWJnB1T4
— England Cricket (@ECB_cricket) January 30, 2015
3.11am – Morgan yesterday spoke of the importance of victory today, which would give England another crack at Australia who they play in their first World Cup game in 15 days.
India team to play England: Dhawan, Rahane, Rayudu, Kohli, Raina, Dhoni (C), Binny, Patel, Jadeja, Shami, Sharma #Engvind#triseries#CWC15
— England Cricket (@ECB_cricket) January 30, 2015
3.03am – Speaking of the pitch at the toss, Morgan said: “It’s probably a little softer than we expected.” Dhoni said he would also have bowled first.
Here's a look at the WACA wicket. Would you have bowled first on this pitch? #EngvInd#triseries#CWC15pic.twitter.com/J5YMAzoB7T
— England Cricket (@ECB_cricket) January 30, 2015
Good luck @ECB_cricket team today !
— andrew flintoff (@flintoff11) January 30, 2015
2.51am – ENGLAND WIN TOSS AND BOWL! Mahendra Singh Dhoni calls incorrectly at the toss and Morgan opts to field first. As the below tweets say, England are unchanged. India are without in-form batsman Rohit Sharma, as expected, and have Mohit Sharma in for fellow seamer Ishant Sharma.
England name unchanged side to face India #EngvInd#triseries#CWC15
— England Cricket (@ECB_cricket) January 30, 2015
England team to play India: Ali, Bell, Taylor, Root, Morgan (C), Bopara, Buttler, Woakes, Broad, Anderson, Finn #EngvInd#triseries#CWC15
— England Cricket (@ECB_cricket) January 30, 2015
2.45am – Hello and welcome to our live coverage of England’s must-not-lose one-day international with India at the WACA Ground. If Eoin Morgan’s side avoid defeat, they will reach Sunday’s Tri-Series final versus Australia. The toss is due in five minutes. There’s lots more warm-up footage on our Twitter page, which is linked here and above.
The lads go through their paces at the WACA #EngvInd#triseries#CWC15https://t.co/ORXOqatcpb
— England Cricket (@ECB_cricket) January 30, 2015