India thrash England by nine wickets to win the fourth ODI at Edgbaston and take an unbeatable 3-0 lead in the five-match series. This is India's first 50-over series win on English soil in 24 years
Birmingham: Ajinkya Rahane smashed his maiden ODI century as India clinched their first 50-over series win on English soil in 24 years after thrashing the hosts by nine wickets in the fourth one-dayer to take an invincible 3-0 lead in the five-match series, here today.
India last won a bilateral ODI series in England in 1990. Back then, the tourists won both the matches in the two-match series -- at Leeds (by six wickets) and Nottingham (by five wickets).
ADVERTISEMENT
Ajinkya Rahane celebrates after reaching three-figure mark during the 4th ODI against England at Edgbaston in Birmingham, central England, on Tuesday. Pic/AFP
Opting to bowl today, the visitors first restricted England to a modest 206 and then overwhelmed the target in 30.3 overs to record their third consecutive victory in the ODI series at the the Edgbaston, in what turned out to be yet another lopsided contest.
While Rahane destroyed the pedestrian English attack with a 100-ball 106 with the help of 10 fours and four sixes, an woefully out-of-form Shikhar Dhawan (97 not out; 11x4s, 4x6s) also re-discovered his touch as the opening duo put on 183-run partnership off 28.4 overs to lay the foundation for the comfortable win.
Left-hander Dhawan rounded off India's emphatic victory with a six off Harry Gurney.
It was a dramatic turnaround for India after the shambolic 1-3 drubbing in the recent Test series, in which the batsmen struggled to cope up with the swinging ball.
The world champions, who won the toss, eleced to bowl and the Indian bowlers produced a disciplined effort to bundle out England for a below-par 206 with Moeen Ali's 67 being the top-score for the hosts.
Ali's second ODI fifty guided England to a score of respectability as the hosts were bowled out in 49.3 overs as they wasted a perfect first-use of a good batting surface with only three batsmen crossing the 20-run mark.
Alastair Cook appears frustrated with his bowlers failing to stop the rampaging Indian openers. Pic/AFP
Ali faced 50 balls, hitting four boundaries and three sixes, while Mohammad Shami (3-28) ended up as India's best bowler on the day. He was ably supported by Bhuvneshwar Kumar (2-14) and Ravindra Jadeja (2-40), while R Ashwin (1-48) and Suresh Raina (1-36) were the other wicket-takers.
Playing his first ODI, Dhawal Kulkarni (0-35) went wicket-less in his seven overs.
The series concludes at Leeds's Headingley ground on Friday.
Brief scores:
England 206, 49.3 overs (M Ali 67; Mohammed Shami 3-28)
India 212-1, 30.3 overs (A Rahane 106, S Dhawan 97 no)
Result: India won by nine wickets
Series: India lead five-match series 3-0
Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here!
