Cuttack: A few days before the beginning of the India-England ODI series and just after Mahendra Singh Dhoni announced his decision to quit captaincy in all formats of the game, Yuvraj Singh had said that the time had come for him and MSD to play some ‘fearless cricket’. It was this trademark that helped the two shine in India’s 2007 triumph at the T20 Worlds in South Africa.
The two again turned back the clock by a decade at the Barabati Stadium here Thursday as India scored a thrilling 15- run victory over England to build up an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-game series. For the records Yuvraj (150, 127b, 21×4, 3×6) and Dhoni (134, 122b, 10×4, 6×6) both got hundreds and added 256 runs for the fourth wicket to pull the hosts out of the woods after they had been reduced to 25 for three. But more than records, the fearless cricket played by the two proved that age can never be the measurement of talent as both took the England bowlers to the cleaners.
England made a valiant effort but against a daunting Indian total of 381 for six, the task was always going to be difficult if not insurmountable. The likes of Jason Roy (82, 73b, 9×4, 2×6), Joe Root (54, 55b, 8×4), Moeen Ali (55, 43b, 6×6) tried their best, but then it is not every day that a victory target of 382 runs is chased down. 
Virat Kohli’s men had the runs to play with as a result of which even though most of the bowlers went at over six runs per over, they were always chipping in with wickets at regular intervals and that scuppered the England chase. Ravi Ashwin (3/65) was the pick of the bowlers for India as they managed to hold on to the late assault launched by Ali and skipper Eoin Morgan (102, 81b, 6×4, 5×6) as the two put on 93 runs for the sixth wicket to give a sniff of hope to England. But once Ali left bowled by Bhuvneshwar Kumar (1/63) dragging on a delivery to his stumps while trying his favourite hoik through mid-wicket, England’s game was good as over.
Earlier Dhoni scored his 10th century in ODIs, his first against England beating his best score of 96 against the same side. And as far as the perennial ‘Prince’ of Indian cricket is concerned, it was vintage Yuvi. He may have a bit of a protruding mid-section now, but he proved that the skipper’s backing has done him a world of good.
The trademark drive through the covers, the imperious pulls while standing tall to the English pacers all announced that Yuvraj still had a lot to offer to Indian cricket. This was his first century since the one he got against the West Indies in the 2011 World Cup and it couldn’t have come at a better time. Both he and Dhoni started off circumspectly, they had every right to with India tottering and then they simply took the game away from England. The jam-packed Barabati Stadium may have lamented Kohli’s early dismissal but they were given their money’s worth by Yuvraj and Dhoni.
Yuvraj finally fell caught behind by Jos Buttler off England’s most successful bowler Chris Woakes (4/60). Dhoni on the other hand, after plundering Liam Plunkett for a six over cover flicked one down David Willey’s throat off the same bowler. Late order contributions from Kedar Jadhav (22, 10b, 3×4, 1×6), Hardik Pandya (19 n o, 9b, 2×4, 1×6) and Ravindra Jadeja (16 n o, 8b, 1×4, 1×6) took India past the 375-run mark to add beef to the total.
But even then at the end it was close, very close indeed.
Kohli hails ‘greats’ efforts
Virat Kohli hailed the match winning efforts of Yuvraj Singh and Mahendra Singh Dhoni and said Thursday that the ‘greats’ showed why they were pivotal to the team’s progress.
“We were wondering if we had a good start were we would have ended up…it wasn’t good batting early on. Two of the greats however delivered when we were under the pump. That is what we had thought when he had selected the team,” Kohli said here Thursday after India beat England by 15 runs at the Barabati Stadium here.
“Getting 381 after being from 25 for three was outstanding. And even though we bowled in the most difficult part of the day, the bowlers did a great job. Ravi Ashwin picked up three vital wickets during the middle overs and that really change the complexion of the game,” added the Indian skipper.
Yuvraj described his knock of 150 as probably the best innings of his career and also said that his performances had boosted his confidence.
“I have been batting and hitting well in the domestic season,” Yuvraj said after being nominated man of the match. “Both me and MS (Dhoni) assessed the situation and batted accordingly.”
The flamboyant left-hander also said that he had worked very hard on his fitness and it helped. “Once you pass 30, you have to work doubly hard on your fitness and I’ve done just that. It paid off today (Thursday),” stated Yuvraj.
PNN
