A robust batting show led by Shubman Gill’s attractive century heralded India’s 142-run hammering of England in the third and final ODI as the hosts completed a dominant 3-0 clean sweep to culminate preparations for the Champions Trophy, here on Wednesday.India ticked all the remaining boxes with vice-captain Gill (112) following up his twin fifties earlier in the series with a seventh ODI ton of his career, while middle-order mainstays Virat Kohli (52) and Shreyas Iyer (78) pushed India to a formidable 356 in the first half.Indian bowlers then took over the mantle to complete the England demolition job, bundling out the visitors for a mere 214 in 34.2 overs to complete a comprehensive victory—their second largest in ODIs in terms of runs against a familiar opponent.There was no change in the script for England, who came crashing down against spin after a sparkling start against pace, which was provided by the pair of Ben Duckett (34) and Phil Salt (24) in tow.The slowness of the surface aided Indian bowlers as strike-making became difficult as the match progressed.Duckett took charge of England’s response early on but played one shot too many. After smacking Arshdeep Singh (2/33) for four consecutive boundaries around the park in the fifth over, he again went after the left-arm seamer but was deceived by the ‘pace off’ knuckleball.The mishit was collected cleanly by India skipper Rohit Sharma at mid-off, and Arshdeep soon bounced out Salt, albeit off a slower one which the batter hit meekly to Axar Patel for a simple grab.Tom Banton gave a good example of himself playing his first ODI against India, hitting a couple of attractive reverse sweeps against spinners, but he could not push on beyond a 41-ball 38 with four fours and two sixes.Joe Root perished for just 24 when an inside edge off Axar (2/22) crashed into his stumps, and Harshit Rana (2/31) hastened the end of England’s resistance by getting rid of Harry Brook (19) and Jos Buttler (6) in quick succession.From 84/2 after 10 overs, England’s resolve petered out as Indian bowlers tightened the screws with regular strikes, and the visitors also lacked gumption on a pitch which remained true in its nature.Earlier, Gill led the way with a fluent 112 while Kohli and Iyer also cashed in on ideal conditions in their last outing before the Champions Trophy, helping India set a 357-run target. Gill anchored India’s innings en route to his seventh ODI ton—112 off 104 balls.
