CUTTACK: England threatened to chase down a mammoth 382-run target set by India, but Virat Kohli & Co hung on for a 15-run win to clinch the second ODI with the series at Barabati Stadium on Thursday. Yuvraj Singh and MS Dhoni were the architects.
On a day that saw 747 runs hammered on a belter of a track, England skipper Eoin Morgan’s valiant century went in vain. Indian pacers bowled well in the death overs to restrict the opposition to 365 for eight. The match was alive almost till the last over.
Despite the asking rate hovering well over 10, Morgan and Moeen Ali (55) kept England going with a 93-run partnership for the sixth wicket. After Ali dragged a Bhuvneshwar Kumar delivery to the stumps, the captain stitched a 50-run partnership with Liam Plunkett, only to be run out in what turned out to be an anti-climax to a brilliant century that came off just 80 deliveries under pressure. With 22 runs needed off the last over, the match was all but over.
Before that, a 256-run partnership between Yuvraj and Dhoni, off 235 deliveries, left England deflated and set the stage for India to clinch the series. The 381 for six is India’s ninth highest score in ODIs.
It was Yuvraj who stole the limelight with a brilliant century while Dhoni played second fiddle during the partnership - the second highest for fourth wicket in ODI history. The highest, 275 between Mohammad Azharuddin and Ajay Jadeja, came against Zimbabwe at the same in 1998. The duo raised 100 for the fourth wicket in 118 balls. While Yuvi contributed 73, Dhoni a quiet 26. India reached 150 in 27.5 overs and Dhoni got to his fifty in 68 balls. The southpaw reached his 14th century off 98 balls.
It was his first three-figure knock after the 2011 World Cup and included 15 fours and a six. Yuvraj finished at a career-best 150 off 126 balls with 21 fours and three sixes. Dhoni joined the run fest and scored his 10th century in 106 balls which was studded with nine boundaries and three sixes. His 122-ball 134 featured 10 fours and six sixes. Kedar Jadhav, Hardik Pandya and Ravinder Jadeja played cameos to take the score to 381.
After India set them a huge target, England lost Alex Hales to Jaspreet Bumrah early on. But the other opener, Jason Roy, came good once again and with the dependable Joe Root, put up a 100-run partnership. At the 25-over mark, England were 162 for two. Ravichandran Ashwin broke the partnership when Root’s slog sweep found Kohli at mid-wicket.
Ravindra Jadeja put further brakes by dismissing Roy, who made a brilliant 82 off 73 deliveries, studded with nine fours and two hits over the rope. A mini collapse saw the dangerous Ben Stokes and Jos Buttler dismissed within five overs before Morgan was joined by Ali and the repair began. The England skipper was circumspect at the beginning but opened up with shots to all parts of the ground. His ninth century had six fours and five sixes as he cleared the ropes effortlessly. In the end, it was not enough.