India vs England: Reverse sweep

Dhoni, spinners help India turn the tables on England, hosts win ODIs 5-0.

KOLKATA: World champions India brushed aside England by 95 runs in the final One-Day International (ODI) to sweep the series 5-0.

Captain MS Dhoni smashed an unbeaten 75 off 69 balls to power India to 271 for eight after the hosts were sent in to bat by Alastair Cook. Left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja then grabbed four for 33 and off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin claimed three for 28 as England were shot out for 176 in 37 overs after a promising start.

Earlier, India were reduced to 123 for four before Dhoni hit his way out of trouble, pounding four sixes and three boundaries, to help the hosts put up a challenging total on a sluggish wicket. The late flourish led by the captain saw India plunder 84 runs in the last eight overs, including 39 off the final 12 balls.

England lose plot

Cook and Craig Kieswetter provided the best start for England in the series as they put on 129 for the first wicket. Both hit half-centuries before the tourists collapsed, losing all their wickets with the addition of only 47 runs as the India spinners ran through the batting order.

Dhoni ecstatic

The India captain, declared man of the series, was a pleased man.

“We were fortunate to score 270 on a pitch like this,” said Dhoni. “They got off to a good start and I was just waiting for it to spin, that’s why I delayed taking the Powerplay.”

Cook credited India after their fine performance.

“It was very disappointing,” said the left-handed opener. “We know that you can lose a few wickets in a cluster but we lost 10. Credit to the way they bowled.”

Published in The Express Tribune, October 26^th, 2011.