JOIN USRobust India seal the deal in style
Set a massive 299 for victory after England rode on Jonathan Trott’s well-paced unbeaten 98 (116b, 8x4) and attacking half-centuries from Kevin Pietersen and Samit Patel to post 298 for four in the third one-day international, India overcame a mid-innings hiccup to power away to 300 for five with four deliveries left for a five-wicket triumph.
The second highest chase at this venue appeared comprehensively in India’s control when Ajinkya Rahane (91, 104b, 6x4) and Gautam Gambhir added 111 (106b) to build on the opening tandem of 79 between Rahane and Parthiv Patel.
Gambhir’s dismissal to a rush of blood sparked a collapse as India lost four for 45. When Ravindra Jadeja walked out to join his skipper, 64 were needed in 50 deliveries, and that equation became even more daunting when it came down to 46 off 30.
Captain Cool, however, maintained his composure even as England felt the heat. Jadeja did the early running, but when things were becoming a bit too tight for comfort, Dhoni upped the ante, bringing both his experience and power into play. Two fours off the first two deliveries of the final over, sent down by the hapless Tim Bresnan who had a miserable day all-round, drove the three-quarters full ground to raptures, and brought the Indian boys, still smarting from the drubbing in England, tumbling to the ground in unbridled joy.
Victory appeared no more than a formality when Rahane and Gambhir were toying with the bowling, making England’s bowling – with the exception of Steve Finn – look very ordinary. The stand was marked more by frenetic running than big strokeplay, Rahane shrugging off a recent lean trot with a polished innings and Gambhir batting like a dream.
After them, Virat Kohli sparkled with a neat cameo before, like Patel, receiving a poor decision from Sudhir Asnani, but Dhoni and Jadeja added 65 (47b) to seal a famous, and emotional, triumph.
England’s innings strangely gathered maximum momentum in the non-Power Play overs, even as they failed to make the most of the field restrictions during the Power Plays. For the third straight time, they failed to get off to a start, Cook being trapped in front by R Vinay Kumar, but Craig Kieswetter led a charmed life to provide the impetus in the company of the poised Trott.
Reprieved by Billy Bowden off Praveen Kumar when 4 (leg before) and 12 (caught behind), the wicketkeeper-batsman threw his bat around before chopping Kohli on to his stumps, ceding centrestage to Trott and Pietersen (64, 61b, 9x4). Both men were under some pressure with the clamour for Ian Bell growing louder, and went about addressing the situation in their own different ways.
Pietersen was full of booming strokes off the back foot, helped by a liberal dose of short-pitched stuff from India’s three pacers, while Trott moved at a stately pace. India had a great chance to end the stand, but a wild throw from Dhoni and a hasty back-flick from Kohli allowed him Trott, then only 32, to scramble to safety.
Only offie R Ashwin, used to the fullest extent in the last two Power Plays, held his own, keeping the batsmen honest with his versatility. The pacers were particularly disappointing and were put away with disdain, first by Pietersen and then by Patel.
Pietersen was ruled leg before after a stand of 101 (102b) with Trott, and after a brief association with Ravi Bopara, Trott found another ally in Patel (70 n.o., 43b, 7x4, 2x6) as India came under the hammer.
Promoted ahead of Jonny Bairstow, Patel justified the move with a career-best effort punctuated by delightful strokes through the leg-side as India continued to dole out freebies during the partnership worth 103 (71b).
Score board
ENGLAND
Cook lbw Vinay 3
(10b)
Kieswetter b Kohli 36
(38b, 3x4, 2x6)
Trott (not out) 98
(116b, 8x4)
Pietersen lbw Jadeja 64
(61b, 9x4)
Bopara b Praveen 24
(32b, 3x4)
Patel (not out) 70
(43b, 7x4, 2x6)
Extras (LB-1, W-2) 3
Total (for 4 wkts, 50 overs) 298
Fall of wickets: 1-8 (Cook), 2-53 (Kieswetter), 3-154 (Pietersen), 4-195 (Bopara).
Bowling: Praveen 10-0-56-1 (w-2), Vinay 9-1-64-1, Kohli 3-0-20-1, Yadav 10-0-71-0, Ashwin 10-0-45-0, Jadeja 8-0-41-1.
Scoring pattern: 5 overs: 18/1; 10: 40/1; 20: 111/2; 30: 159/3; 40: 207/4; end of innings: 298/4 in 50 overs.
Runs during Power Play 1: 1-10 overs: 40/1; Power Play 2: 16-20 overs: 35/0; Power Play 3 (batting): 36-40 overs: 30/1.
INDIA
Patel lbw Bresnan 38
(46b, 3x4)
Rahane c Cook b Finn 91
(104b, 6x4)
Gambhir c Pietersen b Finn 58
(60b, 3x4, 1x6)
Kohli lbw Swann 35
(30b, 5x4)
Raina c Pietersen b Bresnan 0
(3b)
Dhoni (not out) 35
(31b, 3x4)
Jadeja (not out) 26
(24b, 2x4)
Extras (LB-8, W-7, NB-2) 17
Total (for 5 wkts, 49.2 overs) 300
Fall of wickets: 1-79 (Patel), 2-190 (Gambhir), 3-212 (Rahane), 4-217 (Raina), 5-235 (Raina).
Bowling: Steve Finn 10-0-44-2, Tim Bresnan 7.2-0-62-2 (w-2, nb-1), Jade Dernbach 10-0-69-0 (w-3, nb-1), Samit Patel 10-0-50-0, Graeme Swann 10-0-59-1 (w-1), Ravi Bopara 2-0-8-0 (w-1).
Scoring pattern: 5 overs: 25/; 10: 57/0; 20: 106/1; 30: 173/1; 40: 229/3; end of innings: 300/5 in 48.2 overs.
Runs during Power Play 1: 1-10 overs: 57/0; Power Play 2: 16-20 overs: 31/1; Power Play 3 (batting): 36-40 overs: 33/2.