INDIA THRASHED ENGLAND in 2nd ODI | Beats by 54 runs, 2-0 lead

17Nov2008 Filed under: Latest News Author: jaggy

India defeated England by 54 runs in the second One-Day International and took a 2-0 lead in the seven-match Hero Honda Cup. Chasing a victory target of 293 runs, England were bowled out for 238 runs in 47 overs that enabled India to take a 2-0 lead in the seven-match series.

Man of the Match Yuvraj Singh hit 15 fours and two sixes in his magnificent knock of 118 runs off 122 balls, 10th ODI century, and was instrumental in saving India, who were rattled after losing three quick wickets. If his back-to-back centuries were not enough, Yuvraj Singh took four wickets to lead India to a 54-run victory giving India 2-0 Lead. With Figures like 10-0-28-4, He should take Bowling aspect seriously too. Yuvraj played a pivotal role in both this wins & is a force to reckon in the Indian Team.

The hosts lost the wickets of opener Virender Sehwag (1), Suresh Raina (4) and Rohit Sharma (3), all to the bowling of Stuart Broad, before the fourth wicket duo of Yuvraj and Gambhir steadied the ship. The duo came together when India lost their first three wickets within the first eight overs.

While Gambhir continued to show his good form since the series against Australia, Yuvraj had to play differently, mostly with nudges and tickles, from what he had done at Rajkot where he carted the bowlers with impunity.

India lost Sehwag, who gave the innings a rollicking start in the first ODI on Friday with Gambhir, early when he dragged Broad on to his stumps while attempting a drive in the second over of the match. Raina (4) was the next to go when he tried to flick at Broad, bowling with a packed off-side field with two fielders at short cover and extra cover, and the ball stopped a bit for it to balloon towards short square leg and Samit Patel dived in front to catch it.

India, struggling at 15 for two, slid deeper into the mire when Sharma, who found it difficult to middle the ball, mistimed a hook shot off Broad and top-edged for Owais Shah to take an easy catch at short mid-wicket to leave the hosts at 29 for three.

However, Yuvraj and Gambhir adopted judicious stroke-play on a wicket that did not play as true as the one at Rajkot did. In fact the rate picked up significantly only after the arrival of Yuvraj at the crease.

Yuvraj, who had hit Broad for six sixes in an over at the World T20 Championship one year ago, continued his domination by clouting the bowler for a pulled six and a four in the same over to prompt Pietersen to take him off immediately. Broad took his revenge much later by dismissing Yuvraj.

Yuvraj was joined by Pathan and the duo delayed taking the Power Play till the end of the 42nd over when the score read 223 for five. With the field up, Yuvraj struck Flintoff for two fours in the 43rd over.

After Yuvraj’s departure, Pathan, who completed his half-century off the last ball, joined the remaining batsmen to add 53 runs with the five-over Power Play opted for by India yielding 37 runs.

This Match again won single handedly by Yuvi. Scoring a century coming to bat while 29/3 and then picking 4 wickets including dismissing dangerman like Flintoff & Pietersen in the same over. So virtually the match was between Yuvraj and England.

The two teams now travel to Kanpur for the third game, at the Green Park stadium, on Thursday.

Keeps the momentum going….? Ensure u go for the Kill in the next 2 games to win the series post which start experimenting.