LUCKNOW: Captain Jos Buttler pleaded for “answers on a postcard” to explain England’s latest dismal day at the World Cup which saw the defending champions slump to a 100-run defeat to India. After restricting the hosts to 229, England were bowled out inside the 35th over to suffer a fifth defeat in six games.

Only an unlikely mathematical miracle will save England who are rock-bottom of the 10-nation tournament having won fewer games than even non-Test playing Netherlands. “Answers on a postcard. There’s some top players in there who were a long way short of their best,” said Buttler. “Very disappointing. At the halfway stage chasing 230 we fancied ourselves. But it’s the same old story.

“The gut feeling was that we wanted to chase. It is as good as we have been with the ball throughout the tournament. We took some good wickets so we are very disappointed.” The weary looking skipper added: “Whatever way you want to approach the game it is about being committed. For me it was soaking up pressure, building up partnerships and killing pressure.

“It is a about executing your skills. Chasing 230 there wasn’t scoreboard pressure, we are falling short.” India skipper Rohit Sharma led the charge for his team with 87 as India posted 229-9, a total that looked below par but proved enough for a struggling England side on a sluggish pitch.

Fast bowler Mohammed Shami returned figures of 4-22 while fellow quick Jasprit Bumrah took three wickets to wrap up the match. England had a disastrous start and never recovered from being 52-5. “This was a game that showed a lot of character in our squad. When times were tough, our experienced players stood up at the right time and fought for us,” said Rohit, his country’s top run scorer in the tournament after Virat Kohli was out for nought.

“Defending 230 is not something you see every day. You know you have got to take early wickets and put the pressure on. With the experience that our seamers have, I can always rely on them to come good.” Rohit added: “We have got a good balance in our attack. Good spinners and experienced seamers. If I look at my options as a captain, there is plenty for me to work with. “It is also important that our batsmen put scores on the board so that they can work their magic.”

Meanwhile, India spinner Kuldeep Yadav on Sunday said beating a struggling England team at the World Cup “wasn’t that tough” but a good victory nonetheless against the defending champions. The hosts extended their unbeaten run to six games in the tournament with a 100-run win to all but book their place in the semi-finals.

India posted 229-9 before fast bowlers Mohammed Shami and Jasprit Bumrah combined to bowl out the opposition for 129 in 34.5 overs. “I mean to be very honest it was good to win - beating the defending champions,” Kuldeep, who took two wickets including England skipper Jos Buttler bowled for 10, told reporters. “They don’t have the great tournament so far. So it wasn’t that tough — they restricted us for like 230.”

The left-arm wrist spinner said: “We thought probably we have to pick early wickets to be in the game and certainly Jasprit and Shami did and after they were four down for 40 runs, we just trying to bowl in perfect areas and make them make mistakes.”

Shami returned figures of 4-22 and Bumrah struck three times including being on hat-trick at the start to flatten the opposition batting. India lost to England in the 2019 World Cup which ended with England winning the trophy for the first time.

“I mean, I think conditions matter a lot. They have the best team,” Kuldeep said when asked to compare England of 2019 and now. “They played some really good cricket over the years and they have the same players. So, nothing changes.” — AFP