Suresh Raina’s dynamic century laid the platform for world champions India’s crushing 133-run win over England in the second one-day international (ODI) at Cardiff on Wednesday.
Victory gave India a 1-0 lead in the five-match series following Monday’s washout in Bristol and saw them return to winning ways after their 3-1 defeat by England in the preceding Test series.
Raina’s innings was the cornerstone of India’s imposing 304-6 after England captain Alastair Cook won the toss.
England, chasing a rain-adjusted 295 off 47 overs in reply, were well-placed at 54 without loss.
However, they lost all 10 wickets for 107 runs as they collapsed to 161 all out in 38.1 overs.
Spin, as has so often been the case, proved England’s Achilles heel, with left-armer Ravindra Jadeja taking 4-28 in seven overs.
India were in trouble at 19-2 before a stand of 91 between Rohit Sharma (52) and Ajinkya Rahane (41) revived the innings.
Left-hander Raina, who made exactly 100, and India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni (52), then strengthened the tourists’ grip on the game with a fifth-wicket stand of 144.
Chris Woakes led England’s attack with 4-52 in his 10 overs, with off-spinner James Tredwell (2-42) the only other wicket-taking bowler in the innings.
England did not help themselves by bowling 16 wides, with paceman Chris Jordan contributing 12 — the equivalent of two extra overs — in a return of 0-73.
Woakes struck twice in the seventh over, having opener Shikhar Dhawan caught behind before dismissing Virat Kohli for a duck as the talented right-hander’s miserable tour of England continued when his powerful drive found Cook at mid-off.
His exit followed Kohli’s meagre return of 134 runs at 13.4 during the Tests.
There was a case for keeping the new-ball duo of James Anderson and Woakes going.
However, Cook brought all-rounders Jordan and Ben Stokes (0-54 in seven overs) on instead and India then cut loose.
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