India drub England, take 2-1 series lead (Roundup)

Ranchi, Jan 19 (IANS) An overall team effort enabled India clinch the third One-Day International (ODI) against England by seven wickets and go 2-1 up in the five-match series at the JSCA International Stadium here Saturday.

Put in, England were bowled out for a measly 155, and India chased down the target in 28.1 overs in the first international game at the newly-built 39,000-capacity beautiful stadium.

Virat Kohli, currently World No.3 in the ICC rankings for ODIs, anchored the innings to return unbeaten 77. His splendid knock included nine boundaries and the two sixes of the match.

In the process, Kohli also became the fastest to get to 4000 runs in ODIs in 96 matches, the same as West Indies legend Viv Richards. He is the second youngest to go past 4000 runs after batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar.

Tendulkar was 22 years and 359 days, while Kohli is 24 years 75 days.

Kohli got ample support from opener and Delhi teammate Gautam Gambhir (33) and Yuvraj Singh (30) after the home team suffered an early blow when Mumbai batsman Ajinkya Rajane was bowled by pacer Steven Finn for a duck in the third over.

India skipper and local boy Mahendra Singh Dhoni came out to bat on Yuvraj’s dismissal to oblige his hometown crowd which kept chanting “Dhoni… Dhoni!” right through the match and to their delight he struck the winning four.

India got into driver’s seat thanks to a brilliant bowling performance by their bowlers. They justified their captain’s faith by dismissing the visitors in 42.2 overs.

Man of the match in the second ODI at Kochi, Ravindra Jadeja was again the star of the show as he collected three wickets in 6.2 overs.

Jadeja bowled both Craig Kieswetter and Jade Dernbach and caught Samit Patel plumb in front of the stumps. Incidentally, all three batsmen were out for a duck.

Offspinner Ravichandran Ashwin provided good support, taking two wickets for 37 runs from his quota of 10 overs.

Pacer Shami Ahmed provided the breakthrough when he took the prize wicket of England skipper Alastair Cook for 17 to start the slide.

Ishant Sharma got the wickets of Kevin Pietersen (17) and Joe Root, who top scored with 39, both caught behind.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Suresh Raina also chipped in with a wicket each.

IANS 2013-01-19 18:54:02