Dhoni pats spinners, Rayudu
Nottingham: Ambati Rayudu slammed an unbeaten 64 as India relied on an all-round display to thrash England by six wickets in the third cricket one-dayer and take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the five-match series here on Saturday.
Rayudu, who was drafted in place of an injured Rohit Sharma, stitched 87 runs with Suresh Raina (42) from 14.5 overs for the fourth wicket as India chased down the modest target of 228 with 42 balls to spare.
Ajinkya Rahane, who was promoted to opener’s slot, made 45 while Virat Kohli struck 40, his highest innings score of the tour so far, as Indian batsmen had an easy outing against a pedestrian-looking England bowlers at Trent Bridge.
Rayudu grabbed his chance of making it to the playing eleven with both hands as he scored his third half century in his 14th ODI. He hit six fours in his 78-ball unbeaten knock.
Rayudu himself struck the winning runs — a two — off James Tredwell as India reached 228 for four in 43 overs to fashion a clinical win to the celebration of the Indians at the dressing room and seizable supporters at the stand.
Ravindra Jadeja was the other unbeaten batsman on 12.
The visiting batsmen played sensible cricket without taking much risks after their bowlers, led by off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin (3/39), had put them on top by dismissing England for 227.
Shikhar Dhawan (16) was the lone Indian batsman who did not make a substantial contribution in the match which saw home side paceman James Anderson being booed by Indian supporters.
Anderson was involved in an ugly spat with Indian all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja in the first Test at the same venue here. India had lost the five-match Test series 1-3. The first ODI at Bristol was abandoned without a ball being bowled due to rains. The remaining two ODIs will be played at Birmingham and Leeds.
Meanwhile, Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni lauded his spinners and batsman Ambati Rayudu for his side’s six-wicket thrashing of England in the third cricket one-dayer to take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the five-match ODI series here.
The Indian spinners, led by Ravichandran Ashwin (3/39), shot England out for a modest 227 before Rayudu top-scored with an unbeaten 64 to fashion an easy victory over the home side.
“The spinners did it for us. Ashwin and (Ravindra) Jadeja did really well, but it was also Raina’s spell after Mohit’s injury,” Dhoni said after the match which India won with 42 balls to spare.
Rayudu and Raina took one wicket each before contributing 64 not out and 42 in India’s successful run chase.
Dhoni said he never thought the Trent Bridge wicket would turn appreciably but it did to the delight of Indian spinners.
The Indian skipper said that Rayudu could be in contention for the number four slot in the ODI team.
“Rayudu did very well, we are still looking for a number 4 batsman and there are a few out there.”(PTI)
Score board
England:
Cook st Dhoni b Rayudu 44
Hales c Dhoni b Raina 42
Ian Bell run out 28
Root st Dhoni b Jadeja 2
Morgan c Dhoni b Ashwin 10
Jos Buttler b Ashwin 42
Stokesc Raina b Ashwin 2
Woakes c Sharma b Shami 15 Tredwellc and b Kumar 30
Finn run out 6
Anderson not out 0
Total (All out in 50 overs) 227
Fall of wickets: 1-82, 2-93, 3-97, 4-120, 5-138, 6-149, 7-182, 8-202, 9-226.
Bowling: B Kumar 8-0-45-1, M Sharma 3-0-17-0, M Shami 9-0-40-1, R Ashwin 10-0-39-3, S Raina 8-0-37-1, A Rayudu 2-0-8-1, R Jadeja 10-0-38-1.
India
Rahane c Buttler b Finn 45
Dhawan c Morgan b Woakes 16
Kohli c Tredwell b Stokes 40
Rayudu not out 64
Raina c Woakes b Tredwell 42 Jadeja not out 12
Total: (4 wkts in 43 overs) 228
Fall of wickets: 1/35 2/85 3/120 4/207
Bowling: Anderson 7-0-29-0, Woakes 8-1-43-1, Tredwell 10-1-46-1, Finn 8-0-50-1, Stokes 6-0-31-1, Root 4-0-27-0.