Twitter Reactions: Jonny Bairstow, Ben Stokes and Jason Roy propel England to 337/7

Before the tournament started, many expected this game to be one of the best of the tournament and the first innings lived up to the promise big time. Jonny Bairstow, Jason Roy and Ben Stokes chipped in with outstanding contributions for England, who probably would’ve posted a much daunting total if not for the brilliance of Mohammed Shami and Jasprit Bumrah.

Bairstow and Roy made merry of the outstanding batting conditions at the Edgbaston, something we haven’t seen in the previous few games on this ground. After seeing off the initial threat against Mohammed Shami and Jasprit Bumrah, the English openers went all-out against the spinners and scored plenty of runs off them.

For the first time since the Pakistan series before the tournament, both openers looked in such fluent touch and they kept slogging pretty much every ball once they completed the 100-run partnership. Both batsmen completed their half-centuries and added 160 runs in just 134 deliveries. The partnership came to an end courtesy an outstanding catch from substitute fielder Ravindra Jadeja, which saw Roy walk back.

Bairstow kept the onslaught going and completed his first World Cup hundred. This was without a doubt his best performance with the bat and he looked in sensational touch till he got to his hundred. He struggled to find his timing after that and eventually was caught at deep point attempting to slog it over the off-side boundary.

Shami’s double strike brings India back in the game

Mohammed Shami provided another breakthrough for the Indians after dismissing Bairstow for 111 off 109 balls. Eoin Morgan went after a short delivery off Shami, which took the top edge and landed safely in the hands of Kedar Jadhav at deep fine-leg. Runs dried after these two quick wickets and there was a spell of nearly 10 overs without a boundary for the English.

The scoring rate came down from 6.7 to 6 heading into the final 10 overs but Ben Stokes and Joe Root played some brilliant cricket to ensure England got a par total on this high-scoring track. Stokes completed his half-century shortly after Root’s dismissal and although Jos Buttler got a good start, he was dismissed exactly at the right time by Mohammed Shami.

Shami completed his first five-fer for in World Cups and although Stokes hammered him towards the end, his contribution proved to be pivotal. The England all-rounder finished with 79 off 54 balls before getting dismissed in the final over. England finished with an above par total of 337 for the loss of seven wickets.

Here is how Twitter reacted to England innings: