India flatten lacklustre England in nine-wicket win

Tourists grab decisive 3-0 lead in fourth ODI at Edgbaston.

LONDON: India's Shikhar Dhawan smashed a six to seal a crushing nine-wicket victory over hapless England in the fourth ODI in Birmingham on Tuesday.

The touring side cruised to a win that gave them an unassailable 3-0 lead in the series after another feeble England batting display, in which the hosts were bowled out for a paltry 206 at Edgbaston.

India's Mohammed Shami took 3-28 and Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Ravindra Jadeja took two wickets each, with Moeen Ali's fluent 67 the only positive for England.

The Indian batsmen made light work of their chase with Ajinkya Rahane (106) and Dhawan sharing a 183-run opening partnership and the latter smashed the last ball over the ropes to reach the target with more than 19 overs remaining.

India won the toss and England struggled from the start, the top three back in the pavilion with just 23 runs on the scoreboard.

Joe Root (44) and Eoin Morgan (32) patiently rebuilt with a fourth-wicket stand of 80 before both fell to spin, Morgan turning Jadeja to leg-slip and Root playing a reverse sweep straight to Dhawal Kulkarni at backward square off Suresh Raina.

Jos Buttler fell lbw to Shami, Chris Woakes was run out by a brilliant low throw from Raina and only some big blows from Ali took England up towards 200, the all-rounder hitting four fours and three sixes before he was bowled by Ravichandran Ashwin.

Harry Gurney took the only India wicket, at least ensuring that England avoided their first ever 10-wicket defeat in an ODI on home soil, when Rahane chipped a full toss to Cook in the covers.

The final match of the series is in Leeds on Friday. The first game was abandoned due to rain.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 3^rd, 2014.

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