RANCHI — India crushed England by seven wickets to go 2-1 up in the 5-match ODI series here Saturday. Virat Kohli, who got back to his midas touch, set up the resounding win with his 79-ball 77. Earlier, Indian bowlers rattled the England batting line-up by bundling it out for just 155. India also lost opener Ajinkya Rahane (0) early, but Gautam Gambhir (33) and Kohli steadied the innings to some extent by putting on 67 runs for the second wicket. After Gambhir's dismissal, Kohli and Yuvraj Singh (30) accelerated the pace of scoring with a flurry of explosive shots much to the delight of the home crowd. Yuvraj was, however, out with 12 runs left. Kohli blasted two sixes and nine fours during his knock, which formed the cornerstone of the Indian response. The unfashionable cricketing outpost was hosting its first ever international fixture and 39,000 rapt fans saw the local boy Indian team's captain M.S. Dhoni pull Steven Finn for four to ensure a fairytale win and trigger off scenes of celebration in the galleries and the Indian dressing room. It was a commanding performance from India's bowlers, all of whom took a wicket each. Spinner Ravindra Jadeja, who was the pick of the bowlers, took three wickets. He was well supported by Ishant and Ashwin who took two wickets each. The curator earlier expected 350 to be scored on this pitch. England was 68 for one after a slow start, but none of its batsmen could stick around for long after captain Cook departed. Joe Root was the England top-scorer with 39 as the visiting top-order failed miserably. Kevin Pietersen could claim to have been unlucky, with replays suggesting he had been incorrectly given out caught behind off Ishant Sharma when the ball appeared to have brushed his trousers. Bhuvneshwar struck in the next over to take the wicket of Bell (25) who also looked in a good touch. Spinner Jadeja then scalped two wickets in one over to put England in big trouble. It was reeling at 118-6 after 30 overs. Dhoni later said the team had found a “perfect” all-rounder in Ravindra Jadeja. Dhoni said India were struggling for a bowling all-rounder with the only option being Irfan Pathan, but in Jadeja the team had found a suitable answer. “He (Jadeja) is definitely someone who is giving us a balance. In that way, Jadeja is the perfect person to have,” Dhoni said. The two teams now travel to Mohali for the fourth match on Wednesday. — Agencies
