Fans following the five-match T20I series between India and England are dealing with more than just on-field drama, they are also trying to keep up with a schedule where kick-off times keep changing. Some matches in the series begin at 10 PM while others start at 7 PM, and the confusion deepened after the series opener, which began at 10 PM in India, was washed out by rain. Attention now turns to the second T20I in Manchester.
Second T20I Moves To 7 PM, Here's Why
The second T20I between India and England will be played in Manchester at 7 PM IST. The England and Wales Cricket Board, or ECB, pushed the start time an hour earlier for matches scheduled to be played under floodlights. The board made the change in hopes of drawing a bigger television audience.
Full Schedule, Which Match Is When
Of the five matches in the series, the first, third and fourth T20 internationals will start at 10 PM IST, while the second and fifth matches will begin at 7 PM IST. The second T20I takes place in Manchester on July 4. The third match follows in Nottingham on July 7. The fourth match will be played in Bristol on July 9, and the fifth and final match will be held in Southampton on July 11.
How The Series Opener Played Out
In the first T20I played on Wednesday, half-centuries from Abhishek Sharma and captain Shreyas Iyer took India to 189 for 7. Abhishek scored 59 while Iyer made 68. The knocks came as a relief for India, since poor batting form had been the key reason behind the team's 0-2 series defeat to Ireland. England, however, never got a chance to bat. Heavy rain arrived during the innings break and conditions did not improve. With more than 40 minutes still left on the cut off clock for five overs to be possible, the umpires called off the match.
