The Indian team finally displayed a sunny streak against England. Ironically the warmth on the field found no reflection in the wet weather and the first ODI of the NatWest Series that commenced at the Durham International Cricket Stadium here on Saturday was abandoned at 5.30 p.m. local time.
India was truly on top after Praveen Kumar's twin strikes during England's chase added value to a cohesive batting display powered by Parthiv Patel's 95. When the umbrellas were opened in the stands at 3.01 p.m. local time, England had struggled at 27 for two in 7.2 overs with Jonathan Trott and Ian Bell at the crease. Unfortunately for India, the match never revived. Earlier, India scored 274 for seven in 50 overs.
Praveen's twin strikes
Praveen snapped up Alastair Cook on the cut with the fidgety England captain chopping one straight onto his stumps and after three overs, the seamer trapped Craig Kieswetter on the shuffle. Trott drove with finesse against Vinay Kumar but the Indians sensed a chance and were upbeat before the clouds finally lived up to their dark promise.
In the morning, low-slung clouds goaded Cook to press his bowlers into service after winning the toss. A few play-and-miss routines from the Indian openers offered hope but Parthiv and Ajinkya Rahane struck in tandem. Dropped on seven by Ben Stokes while Tim Bresnan fumed, Parthiv merrily pulled the bowlers, who fancied their chances of knocking his head off and kept banging it short.
Delightful hitting
Some shots teased the fielders but as his tenure lengthened, Parthiv (95, 107b, 12x4) threaded his runs through a packed on-side, dabbed a few behind the wicket and hooked anything that homed in close to his eye brows. The quartet of James Anderson, Bresnan, Stuart Broad and Jade Dernbach were treated with scant regard and Parthiv's partner Rahane too joined the fun.
Rahane's inside-out drive over extra-cover off Broad stood out as India enjoyed its first significant opening partnership (82) on the tour after Gautam Gambhir and Abhinav Mukund's 63 in the first innings at Lord's in July.
India then lost two wickets in a span of ten deliveries with Rahane miscuing a pull and Rahul Dravid getting mired in that unerring pattern of solid knocks and dodgy decisions that trailed him all summer.
Dravid done in again
Broad angled one across Dravid's defensive blade, the bowler and Kieswetter were convinced of a snick, Billy Doctrove was not and England plumped for the review. Up in the box, Marais Erasmus watched inconclusive replays for eternity, the hot-spot remained cold and finally the third umpire latched onto a sound when the ball shimmied near Dravid's bat. Doctrove pondered and then shot his finger up and Dravid walked away.
Parthiv meanwhile picked up the gauntlet thrown by Cook. Fielders at fine-leg (fine and wide) and backward square-leg and the hint of a bouncer from Bresnan were dealt in style. The opener, swivelled and hooked and the trio on the fence was rendered ineffective. Parthiv marched towards his highest ODI score and shared a 103-run third-wicket partnership with an enterprising Virat Kohli (55).
Anderson's feat
A maiden hundred beckoned but Parthiv edged Anderson and as the southpaw walked away, Kohli patted his shoulder for a fine knock. Anderson's 200th wicket triggered a brief downturn in the Indian innings as Broad's delivery dented Rohit Sharma's right hand and Kohli dragged Samit Patel on to his stumps. In the last stretch, Suresh Raina, clouted a six each off Broad and Dernbach and Dhoni ran hard.
Eventually India raced to a total that should have ideally tested England especially after the departure of Cook and Kieswetter but the rain queered the equation and Dhoni's men could not do what they yearned for all summer — exert pressure on England.
Scoreboard
India: Parthiv c Kieswetter b Anderson 95 (107b, 12x4), A. Rahane c Samit b Broad 40 (44b, 6x4), R. Dravid c Kieswetter b Broad 2 (6b), V. Kohli b Samit 55 (73b, 4x4), Rohit (retd. hurt) 0 (1b), S. Raina c Cook b Dernbach 38 (29b, 2x4, 2x6), Dhoni c Kieswetter b Bresnan 33 (36b, 2x4), Praveen (not out) 2 (2b), R. Ashwin b Bresnan 0 (1b), Vinay Kumar (not out) 1 (1b); Extras (lb-5, w-3): 8; Total (for seven wkts. in 50 overs): 274.
Power Plays: One (overs 1-10): 43/0; Bowling (11-15): 35/0; Batting (45-49): 38/1.
Fall of wickets: 1-82 (Rahane), 2-87 (Dravid), 3-190 (Parthiv), 4-206 (Kohli), 5-266 (Raina), 6-272 (Dhoni), 7-272 (Ashwin).
England bowling: Anderson 9-0-41-1, Bresnan 10-0-54-2, Broad 10-0-56-2, Dernbach 9-0-62-1, Samit 10-0-42-1, Trott 2-0-14-0.
England: A. Cook b Praveen 4 (10b, 1x4), C. Kieswetter lbw b Praveen 6 (19b, 1x4), J. Trott (batting) 14 (14b, 3x4), I. Bell (batting) 2 (1b). Extras (lb-1): 1. Total (for two wkts. in 7.2 overs when rain stopped play): 27.
Fall of wickets: 1-6 (Cook), 2-21 (Kieswetter).
India bowling: Praveen 4-1-11-2, Vinay 3.2-1-15-0.
No comments:
Post a Comment