Cook punishes India

England captain hits match-winning knock to blank out tourists in 2nd ODI.

LONDON: India’s summer of discontent showed no signs of ending after a captain’s knock by Alastair Cook ensured England romped to a seven-wicket win in the rain-shortened second One-Day International (ODI).

MS Dhoni’s men were left to digest their sixth international defeat on the disastrous England tour. A downcast Dhoni admitted that nothing was going right for his team.

“It was a tough day,” he said. “I think we batted well to score almost 190 but our bowling needs to improve.”

Cook was delighted at the comprehensive manner of the victory.

“This pitch was one of the best I’ve batted on,” he said. “We had a good day in the field.”

A downpour delayed the start and reduced the match to 23 overs a side. Ajinkya Rahane scored his first half-century rattling up 54 balls as he shared a 79-run partnership with Rahul Dravid to enable India to reach 187 for eight.

However, Cook punished India’s bowlers by smacking the ball all over the ground to remain unbeaten on 80 from 63 deliveries, smashing five fours and a six. 

Published in The Express Tribune, September 8^th,  2011.