India shine bright in rain-hit tie, win series
Posted on Nov 23, 2008 at 14:05 | Updated Nov 24, 2008 at 12:55
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Bangalore: Penetrative bowling by Indian seamers backed up by some superb fielding helped the hosts win the rain-curtailed fourth One-Day International against England by 19 runs and wrap-up the seven-match series 4-0 at the Chinnaswamy Stadium here on Sunday.
After the tourists were set a target of 198 runs following the Duckworth-Lewis Method, England were bundled out for 178 for eight in 22 overs.
First to go in England chase was Ravi Bopara, who was caught brilliantly by a diving Ishant Sharma at mid-on off Munaf Patel for one with the tourists needing nine runs per over to reach the target.
In an unexpected move, skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni brought in Yusuf Pathan ahead of Harbhajan Singh and England plundered the off-spinner for 17 runs with new man Owais Shah smashing two fours and one six in that over.
Shah, who chanced his arm too often, was then dropped by Gautam Gambhir at short mid-wicket off Harbhajan's first over on 29 though the off-spinner managed to get rid of Bell off the very next ball when he castled him for 12 off 15 balls.
But there was better news in store as a beauty from Ishant Sharma cleaned up England skipper Kevin Pietersen for just five runs bringing back the memories Ricky Ponting's dismissal by the pacer in Mohali during the Test series.
But England were kept in the hunt with a blazing 82-run partnership for the fourth wicket between Shah and Andrew Flintoff. Shah completed his half-century off just 35 balls including eight fours and one six. Flintoff was in blistering mood as he hit 15 runs off Harbhajan's third over, as the fourteen and fifteen overs yielded 26 runs in total.
Flintoff matched Shah stroke for stroke before Shah was caught by Sachin Tendulkar at short covers off Zaheer Khan during the batting power play after making a solid 72 off 48 balls with nine fours and three huge sixes.
Danger man Flintoff was then caught in the covers by Zaheer off Ishant Sharma after making 41 off just 30 balls with three fours and a six.
With the run-rate climbing all the time, the lower order batsmen tried to hit out but only succeeded in playing into India's hands as Samit Patel found out when he held out to Gambhir off Zaheer for 11 runs to reduce England to 161 for six with just two overs left.
Soon after Graeme Swann was run out for six and with time and overs running out for the visitors, Paul Collingwood was caught by Tendulkar at mid-wicket off Munaf Patel for 22 with just a ball left to get 19 runs for victory which Broad played and missed.
In the Indian innings, which was interrupted twice by rain, Virender Sehwag slammed a stroke-filled 57-balls 69 to take India to 166 for four in 22 overs in the rain-curtailed game. The Duckworth-Lewis method set England the 198-run target off 22 overs.
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Total Comments: 5
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Posted By ravaan
Congratulation Great team India .I Would argue that England could have won the last two ODI but were unfairly denied
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Posted By srikantiah
India has demolished England by making a commanding contnuous 4 victories with the remaining 3 matches in-cosequential.The victory at Bangalore
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Posted By
What a fantastic win by Dhoni and his men. Under Dhoni's captaincy Indian team will remain world champions for many
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Posted By mysrinath
Ridiculous D/L method. I am unable to understand how it came into picture without increase in over rate.Kanpur one dayer
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Posted By lviss
India scored 166 in 22 overs and England had to score 198 in the same number of overs.Another D/L duel.
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