LEEDS: England put up a strong all-round show to thump an underwhelming India by eight wickets in the series-deciding third and final One-day International (ODI) at the Headingley cricket ground here on Tuesday.
On a pitch most suited to their spinners, India’s batsmen and fast bowlers somehow contrived to leave all the eggs in their spinners’ basket, but under the pressure of expectation when defending a small total, they failed to prevent the end of India’s nine-series winning streak in bilateral ODIs. On a dry, almost Asia-like track in Leeds, England could be proud of themselves for outperforming India’s spinners, considered the best in the world, and also batting better against spin than a line-up that has grown up facing some of the best spinners in the world. Powered by Joe Root’s second successive hundred, they finished the chase of 257 off in 44.3 overs.
Adil Rashid, who suffered in comparison to Kuldeep Yadav two matches ago, began England’s turnaround by bowling an imperious-looking Virat Kohli past his outside edge after pitching on leg stump. India were looking good for 300 during the partnership between Kohli and Dinesh Karthik, but Rashid took out both of them to start a turnaround in which India got only 100 runs in the last 20 overs. The fast bowlers – playing, according to Kohli, because they hadn’t yet got a game in the series – got off to an ordinary start, conceding 14 risk-free boundaries in the first nine overs.
India’s spinners had a big ask now. They were under pressure of conjuring up a win, especially on a day when the opposition spinners had pushed India into a corner. A wicket first ball would have raised India’s hopes. The wicket came through a diving collection and run-out by MS Dhoni, who had been central to India’s slowdown. Just when India lost Kohli for 71, Dhoni was beginning to get stuck. Once Kohli and Suresh Raina fell, there was no way Dhoni was going to take any risks. Dot balls rose, there were a few boos around again, but Dhoni played on regardless.
Unlike at Lord’s, you could see what Dhoni was trying to do here. He had seen a turning pitch, he knew the tail was long, and he went on to make sure India got 250-260 as opposed to risking getting bowled out for 230 in an effort to get 280. As it turned out, Dhoni couldn’t even see India through to the end of the innings, and it was left to Shardul Thakur to hit India’s first six in 638 balls this series and take India past 250 with a 13-ball 22.
Dhoni is seldom out, though, and now, having conjured this run-out to send back James Vince, was the time he could help his spinners control the game. Except that India had Root to deal with. In a team full of bludgeon brothers, Root carries the responsibility of anchoring innings when the going is tough. Once again, it was left to Root to take England through this tricky spell of spin.
Two matches ago, Root had faced three balls of left-arm wristspin in all international and T20 cricket for two dismissals, but he showed England the way out with a hundred at Lord’s. He did the same here. The most effective shot he has played in both the matches is the extra-cover drive, against the turn, almost every time Kuldeep has overpitched. (Agencies)
