On Dravid’s swansong, when ‘The Wall’ complied a well made 69, Virat Kohli took center stage with an enterprising 107 and Dhoni finally came good to launch a late assault on England bowlers to propel India to 304 for 6 in the fifth and final ODI at Cardiff.
Overs: (46- 50), Ind: 304/2
Dhoni finally came good putting the England bowlers under pressure as he cleared past the 300 run mark with some absolutely brutal hitting. Jade Dernbach who bowled the final over was all over the place and when Samit Patel dropped Dhoni, the frustration in his face was evident. The next ball was launched into the Cardiff crowd with disdain. It took India 304 for six at the end of 50 overs.
India had their best pair on crease for the slog overs and for a change in this tour the pair delivered bang on. MS Dhoni’s maverick hitting was a long due one and he produced his ‘A’ game in the 5th ODI. He employed the helicopter shot, the hammer shot milking Bresnan for 17 runs in the 47th over.
Raina on the other hand played the supporting role giving the strike to his captain.
Overs: (41- 45), Ind: 249/2
Batting Power play was taken in the 44th over as Raina hoisted Bresnan straight over his head for a massive six.
Virat Kohli’s enterprising innings of 107 off 93 deliveries came to a grinding halt as he was out hit-wicket at the worst possible time for India. A set batsmen was what India needed in the slog overs, but he went back a bit too much while flicking Swann to square leg and disturbed the stumps in the process.
Earlier as Raina joined Kohli in the middle, the controversial Hot-spot was employed for a possible glove to keeper from Kohli and again at times the hot-spot was in cold waters. Though the final decision went in favour of India. Rahul Dravid had been already dismissed by Swann in the 42nd over.
Dravid had danced down the track, was beaten in the flight, the ball rattled the middle and leg stump; ‘The Wall’ had fallen, fallen for one last time on 69. Everyone in the field shook hands with the legend. This was his swansong and as he accumulated his runs, Kohli on the other hand was taking the center stage and probably the limelight as well away from Dravid. But, it’s Dravid, he would have been least bothered.
Overs: (35- 40), Ind: 216/2
Virat Kohli unleashed a flurry of boundaries and a top class six off Samit Patel to propel India past 200 under forty overs and also entered the nineties. In the process the pair of Kohli and Dravid registered partnership of over 150 runs.
With two set batsmen in the crease India were all set to build on a solid platform for the slog overs. Rahul Dravid also reached his fifty of 62 deliveries and that too without much fuss as has been the case with him over the years. He let the youngster Kohli take the risk and pushed himself to the hilt running alongside his quick partner.
The pair were able to put England fielders under pressure converting the ones into two and couple of times twos into threes as well.
Overs: (31- 35), Ind: 173/2
Virat Kohli who had some low scores in the series so far proved good here and along with Dravid played sensibly with some quick running between the wickets, attacking the loose ball and trying to rotate the strike constantly.
After reaching his fifty he evidently shifted to a higher gear and took on Jade Dernbach in the 35th over with two boundaries.
Fifty runs came of this set of five overs.
After a decent start by India, England had crawled back in to the game in the middle overs in previous encounters but this time around a solid fifty by Virat Kohli and equally firm innings of Rahul Dravid ensured that the side were in a good position with 15 overs remaining.
Overs: (26- 30), Ind: 133/2
29th over produced a boundary after long time as Dravid and Kohli, in typical Indian style went after the spinners without any risk. Meanwhile Graeme Swann retreated back to the pavilion possibly due to a sprain.
Ravi Bopara was introduced by Alastair Cook to get in some quiet quick overs. Dravid and Kohli reached fifty-run partnership and steadied the Indian innings.
Overs: (21- 25), Ind: 105/2
Spinners operated from both the ends with Indian batsmen looking far more comfortable. Dravid and Kohli maneuvered the ball into gaps taking at least four singles per overs.
Overs: (16- 20), Ind: 84/2
Greame Swann was given the ball and immediately he scalped Parthiv Patel. Patel who scored 19 off 39 balls had looked itchy and in a foolish act stepped out against the offie only to lob the ball to mid-on.
Again after a decent start both the openers are back in the hut with England evening out things early on.
Virat Kohli joined Dravid in the middle and India would need a solid partnership from the veteran and from the youngster who could fill in the shoes of ‘The Wall’ in the days to come.
Overs: (11- 15), Ind: /0
Ajinkya Rahane ran out of luck as his chancy innings of 26 came to an end with a well judged catch at third man by Steve Finn off the bowling of Jade Dernbach. In walked the wall, Rahul Dravid for his swansong innings to a resounding welcome.
Overs: (6- 10), Ind: /0
Steven Finn produced a testing 6th over which include two unplayable deliveries. Parthiv Patel was beaten comprehensively and in Wasim Akram’s words, it was just too good get a nick.
Bresnan on the other hand bowled well within his limitations sticking to an off-stump line well supported by his fielders. That prompted Rahane to take some risk and tried going over the in-field couple of times which almost cost him his wicket.
Samit Patel dropped a sitter from Rahane at third man off the bowling of Steve Finn. Rahane, though undeterred continued with his offensive attitude.
Overs: (0- 5), Ind: 19/0
Ajinkya Rahane and Parthiv Patel started of steadily against Steve Finn and Tim Bresnan. Parthiv was positive with his footwork and got a cheeky boundary to the fine leg in the very first ball whereas Rahane played with intent first up.
Finn bowled well early on making Rahane uncomfortable with some pace and bounce
England won the toss and opted to bowl first in the fifth and final ODI against India on Friday.
(This post was first published in zeenews.com)
http://zeenews.india.com/sports/cricket/live-india-vs-england-5th-odi_729486.html
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