Yuvraj Singh’s career-best ODI score, MS Dhoni’s first century since October 2013 helped India recover from a poor start to post a massive total, which was simply too much for England as they lost the series after losing the second ODI at Cuttack.
After losing the toss and being asked to bat, India got off to the worst possible start as they lost their top three for just 25 runs. But Yuvraj and Dhoni turned back time as they put on a double-century partnership for the fourth-wicket to help India post 381/6.
In response, England lost Alex Hales early but fifties from Jason Roy and Joe Root kept them interested. But after both fell, along with the cheap dismissals of both Ben Stokes and Jos Buttler it looked as though the game was gone. But captain Eoin Morgan and Moeen Ali had other ideas.
The England captain scored a century while Moeen got his fifty and while they were there, anything looked possible. But once Bhuvneshwar Kumar got the better of Moeen and Morgan followed him soon after, it was only a matter of time and in the end, England lost by 15 runs.
After his career-best score which was also his first ODI hundred since 2011, Yuvraj described it as one of his best innings, He said: “Probably, one of my best innings. The last time I got a hundred was the 2011 World Cup. I am very happy with the innings. We were trying to get a partnership. I just wanted to play down the ground and not take much risk. I have been hitting the ball well in the whole domestic season.
“I had a word with Sanjay Bangar, I told him the way I am hitting the ball I will go big. With the five fielder rule, mid-on, mid-off is up, the wicket was not [helpful] for the seamers after the first 10 overs. Dhoni has been a sensational captain for India. When Mahi is not captaining, he will bat freely. Hopefully, if we take early wickets we can win the game.”
Here are the reactions from the cricket fraternity:
Michael Vaughan:
Anil Kumble:
Harbhajan Singh:
VVS Laxman:
Sachin Tendulkar:
Virender Sehwag:
Rohit Sharma:
Kevin Pietersen:
Former England Michael Vaughan:
Former England all-rounder Andrew Flintoff:
Harbhajan Singh:
Irfan Pathan:
Tom Moody:
James Taylor:
Parthiv Patel:
VVS Laxman:
Mohammed Shami:
Russel Arnold:
Alex Tudor:
Former England fast bowler Chris Tremlett:
David Lloyd:
Anjum Chopra:
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