The most bewildering moment of the night came when Jos Buttler pulled off a jaw-dropping run-out that left everyone in attendance at Old Trafford scratching their heads. England's star wicketkeeper-collector, Buttler, collected the ball and seemed to aim for the stumps, but his throw sailed wide – or so it appeared! The next thing you know, the ball is careening off something (the pads, the bat, who knows?) and whizzing towards the non-striker's end, where Axar Patel was caught out of his ground. It was an absurd turn of events that left even seasoned commentator Michael Atherton stunned – 'something you don't see that often!' he exclaimed.
The timing of this outrageous dismissal couldn't have been more critical. India's star batsman Suryakumar Yadav had already notched a cracking half-century, but the momentum was starting to build against England's disciplined bowling attack. Patel's 12 runs from just 10 balls were crucial in that regard – his departure left India reeling at 165-6.
It highlighted the pressure England applied throughout the innings, particularly in the latter stages. Despite a solid start from India's top order, England's bowlers picked up wickets with ruthless efficiency, suffocating any attempt at significant partnership-building. The run-out of Patel was a testament to Buttler's quick thinking and the inherently unpredictable nature of T20 cricket.
India closed their innings with 165-6 on the board, leaving England with a tough but achievable target in the second match of the series. And what a talking point that bizarre dismissal will be! For England, however, it was a vital wicket that kept India's total firmly within reach.