Team India beat England by 133 runs in the 1st ODI, Thanks to Suresh Raina Century and Ravindra jadeja’s 4 wickets
Team India put their Test troubles behind them as they beat the hosts comfortably in the 1st ODI thanks to a brilliant Suresh Raina ton and won by 133 runs in the second ODI to take a 1-0 lead in the five-match series in Cardiff on Wednesday.
England won the toss earlier and put India into bat thanks to a belligerent Raina’s 75-ball 100, the visitors posted a challenging 304 for six in 50 overs. The 144-run fifth-wicket partnership between Raina, who registered his fourth ODI century, and captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni (52) was one of the key moment for the Indian innings.
Even though England were under a huge task of chasing a formidable target of 304 to win, a rain delay forced the Duckworth-Lewis method to revise the target to 295 in 47 overs.
In reply, Alastair Cook and Alex Hales began on a positive note. Under 10 overs, England put up 53 for no loss as the debutant Hales created a nuisance for the Indian pacers. But after a hiccup, Mohammed Shami and Bhuvneshwar Kumar sent the top order packing as England rattled in the chase.
The introduction of spin left the English in tatters with Ravindra Jadeja (4-28) leading the line. Medium-pacer Mohammad Shami (2-32), off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin (2-38), Bhuvneshwar Kumar (1-30) and Raina (1-12) also picked up wickets.
Eventually though, the hosts were bundled out for paltry 161 in 38.1 overs as Indian bowlers for once made their presence felt in English conditions.
Earlier in the innings, India lost Shikhar Dhawan and Virat Kohli quite cheaply but thanks to the Mumbai boys, Rohit Sharma and Ajinkya Rahane who shouldered a useful 91-run third-wicket partnership only to be broken by spinner James Tredwell (2-42). England pace spearhead James Anderson (0-57), Chris Jordan (0-73), Ben Stokes (0-54) and Joe Root (0-14) went wicketless in the innings.
The negative vibes of the Test loss might have weakened this MS Dhoni side but at Cardiff, there was a ‘new’ side altogether. There were some brilliant catches, energetic fielding and perfect line and lengths from the bowlers endured a perfect day for the India.
The first match of the series was washed off due to persistent rains in Bristol while the focus now shifts to the third ODI at Trent Bridge on Saturday.
Brief scores:
India: 304-6, 50 overs (S Raina 100, R Sharma 52, MS Dhoni 52; C Woakes 4-52)
England: 161, 38.1 overs (R Jadeja 4-28) Result: India won by 133 runs (D/L method)
