England again exposed India’s weakness of coping the bounce and pace as they managed to bundle the World Champions inside 50 overs on a paltry 200 runs at WACA, Perth in a knockout encounter of the tri-series.
Team India managed to post 200 runs on the boards thanks to a cameo from Mohammed Shami (18-ball 25), which saved India the blushes. It would be a colossal task for the MS Dhoni-led side to defend the total, seeing the kind of form India’s bowlers have shown in the series.
At one time India looked cruising towards a good total, when openers Shikhar Dhawan and Ajinkya Rahane stitched an 83-run partnership in 20 overs. But, as England got rid of Rahane in the 36th over, India lost their way and were bundled in 48.1 overs.
Earlier, England captain Eoin Morgan won a good toss on lively WACA pitch as both James Anderson and Steven Finn extracted some pace and bounce. The Indian openers, meanwhile, showed grit and determination and negotiated the new-ball.
Dhawan (38) was the first to depart, but Virat Kohli playing on his favorite number three position looked solid and tried to make a partnership with Rahane. Moeen Ali, however, turned out to be India’s nemesis once again and dismissed Kohli (8) and Raina (1) in a space of four runs.
After that India completely lost the way, as Ambati Rayudu (12), Rahane (73), Stuart Binny and skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni were all sent packing quite cheaply. Binny (7) and Dhoni, in particular, looked quite composed but the former was dismissed, when Ian Bell pulled off a screamer.
Dhoni, meanwhile, played some solid shots but a rising ball from Anderson hit the Indian skipper in front of the helmet. He looked rattled from the blow and in the same over a ball, which kept low, hit Dhoni (17) on the pads.
It was just a matter of time after that as Indian lower-order failed to put any resistance as Ravindra Jadeja (5) and Axar Patel (1) were dismissed cheaply.
