Rajkot ODI: India win by 158 runs against England

India posted a thumping win over England in the first ODI of the seven-match series at the Madhavrao Scindia Cricket Ground in Rajkot, Gujarat on Friday.

Yuvraj Singh was the star of the match as he hammered an unbeaten 138 runs to help India post a mammoth total of 387/5 in 50 overs against England. Yuvraj's power-hitting included 16 fours and 6 sixes.

The left-handed batsman, batting with a belt around his waist and with Gautam Gambhir as his runner for the major part of his dazzling knock, hammered the visiting team's bowlers all around the park to notch up his ninth one-day hundred.

The Punjab cricketer reached his hundred off just 64 balls with 11 fours and four sixes, narrowly missing out on overhauling Mohammed Azharuddin's 62-ball century record.

The 26-year-old batsman, struggling in Ranji Trophy after a poor run in the Challenger Series prior to this tie, got to his second fifty in only 22 balls with six fours and two sixes.

He powered India to best-ever score at this ground, overtaking New Zealand's 349 for nine made against hosts in November 1999. The total was also the best ever by India against England, overhauling the 329 for seven made in August 2007 at Bristol.

It was also the second-best ever by India in ODIs, behind the 413 for five made against minnows Bermuda in the 2007 World Cup at Port-of-Spain, Trinidad.

The innings started on a positive note as the openers Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir provided a flying start to India. The Delhi lads scored runs at a brisk pace to take the score to 24/0 in 5 overs.

Gambhir completed his 2,000 runs in one day international cricket in the 6th over with a guided four past the slips off Stuart Broad's delivery.

The openers hammered the lose deliveries and the bowlers looked ineffective against the vicious batting attack.

Sehwag, soon, notched up his 30th ODI fifty by hammering two huge sixes off Paul Collingwood's first over. Sehwag's swashbuckling fifty came in 44 balls with the help of 6 fours and 2 sixes.

India's other opener Gambhir followed suit as he made his 12th ODI fifty. He took 59 balls to complete his fifty. The left-hander, though, departed soon after as he was caught by Owais Shah on Patel's delivery.

Patel pocketed his second wicket of the day when Ian Bell took a stunning catch to his right to dismiss Sehwag. Sehwag made 85 runs with the help of 10 fours and 3 sixes.

After the fall of openers, middle-order batsmen Yuvraj Singh and Suresh Raina took the charge of Indian innings. Both of them gathered 89 runs for the third wicket after which Raina was caught by Collingwood on Flintoff's delivery.

Thereafter, Yusuf Pathan fell without opening his account as he gave an easy catch to Bell on Harmison's delivery.

Replying to India's total of 387, England were all out for 229 runs. Yuvraj Singh was the star of the match as he struck an unbeaten 138 runs in just 78 balls which included 16 fours and 6 sixes.

England started their innings on a poor note. Opener Matthew Prior was dismissed in the fourth over. Prior edged Munaf Patel's delivery into the hands of Sehwag as India got their first breakthrough.

England lost their second wicket in quick succession as Owais Shah was dismissed. Shah edged Zaheer Khan's delivery only to be caught by Virender Sehwag at slips. After 5 overs, England were 17/2.

After a bit of partnership between Bell and Kevin Pietersen, England lost their third wicket. England opener Bell was caught by Dhoni on Zaheer Khan's delivery. Bell made 25 runs.

In the same over, Andrew Flintoff was trapped in front of the wickets by Zaheer Khan. England were staring at a score of 38/4, requiring another 350 runs to win the Rajkot ODI.

Paul Collingwood edged R.P. Singh's delivery into the hands of wicketkeeper Mahendra Singh Dhoni as England lost their fifth wicket. Collingwood made 19 runs.

England skipper Kevin Pietersen played a calm innings to rode past his 6th ODI fifty against India. Pietersen hammered his fifty in 36 balls with the help of 5 fours and 2 sixes.

England lost their sixth wicket as Samit Patel was stumped by Mahendra Dhoni on Harbhajan Singh's delivery. England were 149/6 after 26.3 overs.

Kevin Pietersen, the lone man standing, was dismissed as he was run out. Pietersen made 63 runs.

Earlier, Yuvraj Singh hammered an unbeaten 138 runs to help India post a mammoth total of 387/5 in 50 overs against England. Yuvraj's power-hitting included 16 fours and 6 sixes.

The left-handed batsman, batting with a belt around his waist and with Gautam Gambhir as his runner for the major part of his dazzling knock, hammered the visiting team's bowlers all around the park to notch up his ninth one-day hundred.

The Punjab cricketer reached his hundred off just 64 balls with 11 fours and four sixes, narrowly missing out on overhauling Mohammed Azharuddin's 62-ball century record.

The 26-year-old batsman, struggling in Ranji Trophy after a poor run in the Challenger Series prior to this tie, got to his second fifty in only 22 balls with six fours and two sixes.

He powered India to best-ever score at this ground, overtaking New Zealand's 349 for nine made against hosts in November 1999. The total was also the best ever by India against England, overhauling the 329 for seven made in August 2007 at Bristol.

India's massacre started in the last 10 overs as the Yuvraj Singh went after the bowlers, hitting sixes and fours in tandem.

After winning the toss, England decided to field against India. India included Yusuf Pathan in the squad and Ishant Sharma was left out due to injury.

Sachin Tendulkar was rested for the first three ODIs against England in the seven-match series.

India: Gautam Gambhir, Virender Sehwag, Suresh Raina, Yuvraj Singh, Mahendra Singh Dhoni (capt/wk), Rohit Sharma, Yusuf Pathan, Zaheer Khan, Harbhajan Singh, Munaf Patel, RP Singh.

England: Ian Bell, Matt Prior (wk), Owais Shah, Kevin Pietersen (capt), Andrew Flintoff, Paul Collingwood, Samit Patel, Ravi Bopara, Stuart Broad, Steve Harmison, James Anderson.

Umpires: Suresh Shastri and Russel Tiffin (Zimbabwe)
TV umpire: Ameesh Saheba
Match referee: Roshan Mahanama (Sri Lanka)

Highlights:
Toss: England won the toss and opted to field

India
50 runs for no loss in 9.2 overs (59 balls), Extras 3
100 runs for no loss in 16.2 overs (102 balls), Extras 8
150 runs for 1 in 23.5 overs (147 balls), Extras 12
200 runs for 2 in 31.5 overs (197 balls), Extras 14
250 runs for 4 in in 37.5 overs (234 balls), Extras 15
300 runs for 4 in 43.3 overs (269 balls), Extras 16
350 runs for 4 in 46.4 overs (290 balls), Extras 20

England
50 runs for 4 in 13.2 overs (81 balls), Extras 2
100 runs for 5 in 20.5 overs (127 balls), Extras 4
150 runs for 6 in 26.5 overs (164 balls), Extras 5

Source: indiatoday.digitaltoday.in