3rd ODI: Bowlers give India easy 7-wicket win

England skittled out for just 155, home side leads series 2-1.

India reigned supreme in their third One-Day International against England in Ranchi, beating the tourists by seven wickets to take a 2-1 lead in the series.

Chasing a low target of just 156, the hosts shone with man-of-the-match Virat Kohli’s impressive half-century, while captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni hit the winning boundary to wrap up the match in just 28 overs.

Earlier, England were skittled out for just 155 in a manner similar to their dismal performance in the previous match, where they were bowled out for 158. Ravindra Jadega claimed three scalps.

Joe Root was the leading run-scorer with 39 before falling victim to an Ishant Sharma delivery. Captain Alastair Cook and Kevin Pietersen could only manage 17 each, while Ian Bell and Tim Bresnan made twin scores of 25.

“The bowlers did the job for us,” said Dhoni, according to ESPNCricinfo. “It was important to take wickets with the new ball. Everything went off well, we won the game; it was a perfect script.”

Published in The Express Tribune, January 20^th, 2013.