England went into the opening match of their Twenty20 series against India this afternoon having won a Test series away to their hosts for the first time in 27 years earlier this week.
That success failed to inspire Eoin Morgan's side in Pune though, as England only managed to record 157 runs from their 20 overs.
Hosting India never looked in trouble during their reply and reached the victory target with five wickets and just over two overs to spare.
You can find out how the match unfolded with our over-by-over updates below.
Afternoon all. At last we have England playing cricket at a reasonable hour following a run of 3am starts! It looks as though we've got an interesting few hours ahead as well so don't go anywhere!
And without further ado, Eoin Morgan and MS Dhoni are just about to do the toss...
India win the toss and elect to bowl first
Well, well - it's up to England to go out there and set a score first. India skipper Dhoni explains to Sky Sports News that a risk of the conditions getting slippy later in the day was a major factor behind his decision. Morgan also concedes that he would have made the same decision, but hopes that the pitch will not be too troubled by the dew.
Morgan also provided us with some early team news. Strangely Jonny Bairstow is not included in the lineup. The Yorkshireman has really fallen out of favour with the selectors. Joe Root, who impressed during the final Test, also misses out. We'll confirm both teams as soon as we have them.
Whoever plays for England, it is going to be a much-changed side from the one that competed in the Tests. The likes of James Anderson, Graeme Swann and Kevin Pietersen have all gone home already following the successful campaign. While they are bound to be missed, it should mean that some hungry players with a point to prove will come into lineup.
ENGLAND X1: Hales, Lumb, Wright, Morgan, Patel, Buttler, Bresnan, Tredwell, Meaker, Briggs, Dernbach
It's an exciting-looking England team. The likes of Alex Hales, Michael Lumb, Luke Wright and Morgan are all more than capable of putting some big runs on the board. It's also a big match for James Tredwell, who is making his debut. With Swann not included, Tredwell has a real chance to stake a claim to be England's spin bowler in T20 encounters.
Also, with Bairstow not involved, Jos Buttler will take the responsibility behind the stumps.
INDIA X1: Gambhir, Rahane, Kohli, Yuvraj, Raina, Jadeja, Dhoni, Ashwin, Chawla, Dinda, Awana
The one player in that Indian team that really catches the eye is Virat Kohli. No disrespect to his teammates, but he is the real danger to England. After all, you're not named the ICC ODI Player of the Year for no reason!
One big addition for England is Luke Wright, who has flown in from the Big Bash League in Australia. Talking to Sky Sports News, he insists that his ventures around the world playing T20 cricket have helped him improve.
"Going around the world has helped me. Playing with some of the best players in the world and learning from them has been massive for me," he said.
One player that is under pressure for India is their skipper Dhoni. He may have got 99 in the final Test, but his side still lost the series. Discussing the captain on Sky Sports News, former England cricketer Nasser Hussain believes that it is a big couple of matches for the 31-year-old. Lose this and his position may very well be reviewed.
Dhoni himself is confident ahead of this encounter. "It looks completely different side to the Test series, it's important that we field well with these fresh legs. It's important that we back each other, with the amount of time we spend playing IPL it makes us an experienced side," he said.
Right, Hales and Lumb are out in the middle. Ashoke Dinda, who didn't feature in the Tests, will bowl the first over for India. Game on...
Dinda went short with the fifth ball of the over and Hales made him pay by sweeping the ball away for England's first boundary. The final ball gets the same treatment. That's a positive start from Hales and England.
First outing of spin from India today and boy did Ashwin make it difficult for Lumb. Credit to the England batsman for standing firm, but it's a maiden over. Terrific stuff from Ashwin.
Hales is looking extremely confident out there at the moment. Front-foot, back-foot it doesn't seem to matter to him. The Nottinghamshire batsman hits debutant bowler Awana for 11 runs, including two boundary fours. If Lumb, who got off the mark in that over, can also start contributing, England will be in business.
Wicket! Lumb (1) lbw b Ashwin
Oh dear Michael Lumb. He's gone in the first ball of the third over. That earlier maiden must have played a part - he seemed too eager to play a big shot. His timing was off though and the ball struck his pad and in turn up went the umpires fingers. Replays show that the ball looked to be hitting middle stump. Luke Wright comes in.
Solid start from Wright. He faced four balls there and has five runs to his name. He's yet to strike the ball cleanly but looks a lot more confident than Lumb, who in truth was put out of his misery.
There were three dot balls during that over but from the other three, Hales hit 11 runs, including a massive six! He's been really composed this afternoon. He's unbeaten on 31 from just 16 deliveries. It's looking good for England at present.
Hales is hitting the ball a heck of a long way at the moment - 84m to be precise! Another six helps England go past 50 with a run-rate of just over eight. Ashwin is a very good bowler but he's been made to look silly by Hales. Incidentally, the power play has now finished.
Wright has now joined Hales at the party. He shows a deft touch during the third delivery of the over to reach the boundary rope, before brutally smashing the next ball for four. Hales weighs in with a four of his own off Chawla's last ball as England continue to motor along.
A big escape for England in that over. Wright and Hales have a slight mix up, which would have seen the latter dismissed with a direct hit. Thankfully for them, Kohli moves out of the way of the ball and it just misses the stumps. There was also another six in there for Wright. These two England batsman have got all the luck on their side at moment.
50 not out: It's only taken Hales 26 deliveries to get there as well! What a remarkable innings from the young batsman.
It was nowhere near as speedy as previous innings, but Wright and half-centurion Hales keep the score ticking over for England. The run-rate currently stands at nine.
Dinda is not enjoying himself at the moment. A now-settled Wright hits him for one four as England head closer to three figures. The run-rate is slowing slightly, but the tourists won't be concerned because there is still plenty of batting left to do in this innings.
Wicket! Wright (34) c Rahane b Yuvraj
Just as I praise him for looking settled, Wright heads back to the hutch. He didn't get enough with on a lofted shot down the ground and a grateful Rahane was waiting underneath it on the boundary to catch. Still, it was a very good knock from Wright following the early dismissal of Lumb. Captain Morgan now enters the fray.
Solid start from the skipper, who ends the over with two runs from three balls. It will be interesting to see if he begins to strike the ball around the pitch or if he allows Hales to continue what he started.
There's no doubt that the dismissal of Wright and the end of the power play has halted England's progress over the past two or three overs. With eight left to go, this could be the moment where Morgan begins to open up. England need a boundary to up the run rate.
Wicket! Hales (56) b Yuvraj
A brilliant innings from Hales but his wicket could not have fallen at a worse time for England. Credit to Yuvraj though, he sent Hales back towards his own stumps and caught the England batsman out. England are wobbling as Samit Patel comes to the crease.
Wicket! Morgan (5) c Rahane b Yuvraj
England's wheels are falling off! The same combination that did for Luke Wright also catches out skipper Morgan. In fact, it was almost an identical shot that Morgan played - he just didn't get enough off the ball. What an over from Yuvraj - he has figures of 3-12.
What an awful over from an England point of view. They lost two crucial wickets and runs have become very hard to come by. Quite simply, Patel and Jose Buttler must hang around for a while.
Patel and Buttler trade singles as England get five from that over. The run-rate has slowed dramatically. You feel that the visitors must get up to at least 150 runs to make a game of this. They've got six overs to do so.
A much-needed boundary for England during that over courtesy of Patel. It was the only one that Yuvraj conceded from his four allotted overs. The part-time bowler has destroyed England today.
The runs have dried up and neither of these two at the crease look capable of finding the boundary consistently. Just four runs came off that last over. England need a profitable over, and quick!
Jadeja will be delighted with his bowling there. He bowled six balls, all of which went for singles. In contrast, a disappointed Patel shakes his head. He knows England need some boundaries. They've got 18 balls to find them.
Hallelujah! It's by no means pretty but Buttler strikes the second ball of that innings for six. It was only England's second boundary since the 10th over. Then, like London buses, Patel contributes another six. That's much better from England - they got 15 from that one. Ashwin ends his bowling spell with figures of 1-33.
Wicket! Patel (24) c Rahane b Dinda
Rahane has been a busy boy this afternoon. That is his third catch of the match. Like Morgan and Wright before him, Patel simply didn't get enough of the ball and it was an easy take for the Indian fielder. Credit to Patel though, he stuck 24 runs from just 21 balls. Tim Bresnan replaces him.
Wicket! Bresnan (0) c Kohli b Dinda
Quack, Quack! Bresnan has gone for a duck, although he is a tad unlucky. There's nothing particularly wrong with his shot, it's just a great diving catch from Kohli in the deep. All of a sudden the pace of Dinda has claimed two wickets! James Tredwell is now at the crease.
Well the less said about that the over the better! Not only did England lose two wickets, but they also recorded just two runs. Par score on this pitch in the IPL is 151 - England need 11 from the final over to match that.
The trademark 'Buttler scoop' brings about a six for England - and boy were they in desperate need of that. Then, from the very next ball he lashes the ball back past Awana and straight over the boundary rope for back-to-back sixes. That's a lot better for England, who have set their hosts 158 to win this.
India require 158 runs to take a 1-0 series lead
Well, Buttler's flourish at the end has given England a chance in Pune. Up until that point, the visitors had stuttered following the quick dismissals of the excellent Hales, Wright and Morgan.
Having said that, in their conditions, you'd have to fancy India to reach that target from their 20 overs. Looking at their batting lineup again, it's probably advisable for the spectators in the first few rows to wear some tin hats!
It's going to be a big test for the likes of Danny Briggs, James Tredwell and Stuart Meaker. It's highly doubtful that the newbie bowlers will have featured in an atmosphere like this too often. You can bet that skipper Morgan will be looking for Tim Bresnan and Jade Dernbach to lead from the front.
Have to say that the pitch is not looking like a traditional Indian one. The ball is not turning much at all. In all honesty it looks more like a pitch that you will see in England's County Championship. Another factor in India's favour ahead of their reply.
It's important for England that they don't allow too many partnerships to form. In this format of the game, if two batsman hang around for even five overs, the score and run rate can soon shoot up. Wickets at regular intervals is the key.
Here we go then - Gambhir and Rahane are out and will open up India's reply. Dernbach of Surrey is the man charged with the task of claiming an early wicket...
What a poor start from Dernbach. He opened up with two wide deliveries and added another one later in the innings. Add to that a boundary from Gambhir and India will be delighted. Tim Bresnan is next to bowl for England.
At this rate, this match will be over very quickly. Bresnan gets hit for six of Rahane and then for four of Gambhir. The Yorkshireman also bowled a wide as well. Excellent start from India.
England must take Dernbach out of the attack. He's been struck all over the pitch during that over. For a little man, Rahane cannot half strike the ball far! He hit his second six of the innings there. England need a wicket.
That's much better from Stuart Meaker on debut. His fourth ball of the over was a smart slower delivery that deceived Gambhir. India only managed to score four runs there but they are still in control.
Wicket! Gambhir (16) c Hales b Bresnan
Boy oh boy did England need that! Gambhir is the man who is heading back after his looping shot is caught in the deep by Hales, who is having a really good game. Game on...
DROPPED! Oh dear oh dear oh dear Stuart Meaker! What a chance. Rahane hooks Bresnan's delivery straight to the debutant, but the ball squirms out his hands. He won't get a better opportunity than that!
Wicket! Rahane (19) c Patel b Bresnan
Meaker you lucky chap! Rahane adds just one more run, taking his total to 19, before he is caught by a sliding Patel. Now we have a game on our hands!
Well that was eventful six balls. Two wickets and a dropped catch! Nevertheless, England are back in a match that looked to be running very quickly away from them.
Steady bowling from Meaker, who looks to have put that dropped catch behind him. At this point in their innings, England were 51-1 so there is very little in it at the moment. The spin of James Tredwell will now look to disrupt the Indian batsmen.
Good batting from India and particular Yuvraj. He's now on 10 runs and kept the score ticking along nicely during that over. That is just what India needed after what has been a hectic last few minutes.
Yuvraj is now beginning to motor. He hit Danny Briggs for a two sixes and a four during that over as India regain control of this match. Briggs is scratching his head and so he might - he seemed to be unsure where to bowl there.
It had been a good over from Tredwell until the last ball where Kohli sent a wide delivery skidding to the boundary for four. That turned an ordinary over into a good one for the home team. Kohli incidentally has 10 runs from nine balls.
Wicket! Yuvraj (38) c Meaker b Wright
That is a massive wicket for England. And credit to Meaker. Having dropped one earlier, he gets underneath a shot from Yuvraj that went so high it could have had snow on it! He was also next to the boundary and had to show good footwork to avoid going over the rope. That also brought up the over.
India get seven runs from that over as they recover well from the loss of Yuvraj. Kohli looks like he has taken over the mantle as leading batsman, with Raina providing the support.
As predicted, Kohli is beginning to open up his shoulders. One shot that caught the eye was when he lifted the ball over extra cover for four. It wasn't a bad delivery from Wright either. The Indian batsman is now on 21 runs from just 16 balls.
Wicket! Kohli (21) b Meaker
Meaker lets out a massive scream of delight because he knows he has just claimed a massive Indian wicket there. It's a great delivery as well. It looked as though the pace did for Kohli, who was beginning to score runs for fun. Captain Dhoni enters the action.
He may have got the wicket of Kohli, but it's a sloppy end from Meaker, who bowled two wides. Then, to add insult to injury Morgan has a golden chance to run out Dhoni, but throws the ball well wide of the stumps. A missed opportunity for England.
That's a better over from India, who in truth are comfortable at the moment despite losing some key batsman. Raina is looking sharp, particularly when playing off the back foot. Between him and Dhoni, they will be looking to get the job done soon.
India are now cruising towards the victory target. Dhoni has 10 runs, whil Raina has worked his way up to 15. The home team need just 26 to win from 30 balls.
England have bowled 10 wides so far today. That is a record for them in T20 cricket. Poor!
It's steady from India, but then again steady is all they need. They've got four overs to get 21 runs. If they don't manage that, it will be a massive, massive upset!
A flat six from Raina off the bowling of Bresnan was the highlight for India during that over. Just 10 more runs required. Will they do it in the next over? Quite possibly...
Wicket! Raina (26) run out Morgan
It may be too late for England but you've got to admire Morgan's fielding there. Again Dhoni and Raina get in a mix up over whether to run or not. Morgan reacts quickly by sliding in to pick up the ball and in the same movement strikes the stumps. It won't alter the outcome though.
India win by five wickets!
Well that was all too easy for India in the end. In truth, despite losing some of what are considered to be their best batsmen, they never really looked in trouble. It's a deserved victory.
From an England point of view, as expected, they were 20 or 30 runs short. That spell between the 10th and 15th overs in which they struggled to score runs has proved to be decisive. Having said that, there was still some positives to take from the match - particularly the performance of Alex Hales with the bat.
That is just about all we have time for from Pune. However, before we go, why not give our match report of the action a read?
Thanks for spending time with us this afternoon and be sure to join us again on Saturday afternoon for the second and final match of this short series.
Written by
Liam Apicella
Liam Apicella
