England exposed India’s weakness against the moving ball once again, and handed a thumping nine-wicket defeat in the third game of the tri-series at the Brisbane Cricket Ground today.
It is India’s second successive defeat in the tri-series after losing the opener against Australia a couple of days ago at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
Unlike the first match, India failed to put any resistance and easily squandered the match with 135 balls to spare, after bundling inside 40 overs at the Gabba.
Team India did manage to take an early wicket while defending a small 154-run target, when Moeen Ali was dismissed by all-rounder Stuart Binny, but after that it was all England’s show.
Ian Bell, under no pressure whatsoever, made a fluent half-century and constructed an unbeaten 131-run partnership for the second wicket with James Taylor, who also completed his third ODI fifty.
Earlier, India’s decision of batting first didn’t go well as the English bowlers used the conditions well and destroyed the famous Indian batting line-up.
Skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni and all-rounder Stuart Binny put up a fight and stitched a 70-run partnership for the sixth wicket, still India only managed to score 153 runs in 39.3 overs.
Finn was the wrecker-in-chief and troubled the Indian batsmen with pace and bounce as the Indians never looked at ease playing him and surrendered quite easily.
India, again, endured a shaky start when Shikhar Dhawan edged James Anderson’s delivery to wicketkeeper Jos Buttler. Ambati Rayudu and Ajinkya Rahane started the rebuilding work and made a 56-run partnership for the second wicket.
Rahane, who looked well set, threw his wicket away and opened the floodgates as India lost Virat Kohli, Suresh Raina and Rayudu in a space of three runs. Dhoni and Binny ensured that India face no more jolts and looked solid in the middle.
In the powerplay India lost the way again as England dismissed remaining five batsmen inside four overs. Dhoni was the first to go, followed by Axar Patel, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Binny and Mohammed Shami.
Finn was the star performer for the Eoin Morgan-led side, but Anderson, too, played his part and made a fine comeback by picking four wickets. Moeen Ali, meanwhile, finished with a wicket of Raina.
