England win last ODI, India clinch series 3-1
Leeds, Sep 5 (IANS) India lost the fifth and final One-Day International (ODI) by 41 runs but clinched the five-match bilateral series 3-1 against England at Headingley here Friday.
After being put in to bat, England put up a strong total of 294/7 powered by Joe Root's 113 from 108 balls on his ground, which India failed to chase down, getting bowled out for 253 in 48.4 overs.
Skipper Alastair Cook (46) and wicketkeeper-batsman Jos Buttler (49) also came up with useful innings' after England lost two wickets in the first seven overs. Indian pacer Mohammed Shami got 2/52 while Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Umesh Yadav, Ravichandran Ashwin and Suresh Raina got a wicket each.
The home side found themselves on the back foot as Indian seamers sent Alex Hales (4) and Moeen Ali (9) back to the pavilion early.
Cook had some nervous moments, edging twice through the slips, while man of the match Root smashed five boundaries as he raced to his first 22 runs in no time. Cook finally ran out of luck with the introduction of spin as he attempted a sweep at Raina and looped into Mahendra Singh Dhoni's gloves.
The spinners tied down the run flow and in 18 overs of spin, England could muster only 66/2.
However, Root went on with his business and with Buttler put on a century-run stand (108), England's first of the series, for the fifth-wicket. They scored 55 without loss in the batting powerplay, including five fours and three sixes.
At a time when the partnership looked dangerous, Buttler ran himself out as he attempted an impossible single after padding the ball no more than two feet away from Dhoni.
It was Shami, who finally dismissed Root, who flicked a catch to short fine-leg but a cameo from Ben Stokes (33 not out from 23 balls) took England to a challenging total.
India's chase did not get off to a good start as they lost opener Ajinkya Rahane on only the third delivery of their innings.
Thereon, the visitors kept losing wickets at regular intervals and were struggling at 91/4 by the 22nd over. Opener Shikhar Dhawan (31), Virat Kohli (13) and man of the series Suresh Raina (18) got starts but then gave away their wickets.
However, Ambati Rayudu (53) and skipper Dhoni tried to provide some resistance in the middle overs. Rayudu earned a hard fought half-century before irresponsibly lofting a delivery only to be caught by Cook.
Dhoni took stuck out in the middle for an hour and three minutes for a patient knock off 42 deliveries when he too got out for 29.
But from 173/6, all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja provided some real entertainment for the crowd as fireworks from his bat helped him reach his 10th half-century and highest ODI total of 87. He smashed the bowlers all over the ground in a lost cause as Ashwin (16), Bhuvneshwar (1) and Shami (0) got out without offering much support, with India at 209/9.
However, he totally entertained the crowd with his unconventional yet effective batting to smash nine boundaries and two huge sixes in his 68-ball knock before being bowled out.
India will play England in a lone Twenty20 International Sunday which will bring an end to the tour.