Dhoni: We were not tested
Captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni admitted India emerged relatively unchallenged, after resigning England to a heavy nine-wicket defeat – and three-nil series loss – in Tuesday's fourth ODI at Edgbaston in Birmingham.
Captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni admitted India emerged relatively unchallenged, after resigning England to a heavy nine-wicket defeat – and three-nil series loss – in Tuesday's fourth ODI at Edgbaston in Birmingham.
Seamers Mohammed Shami and Bhuvneshwar Kumar shared five key wickets – and spinners Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja and Suresh Raina a further four – as the hosts slipped to a mere 206 all out.
Centurion Ajinkya Rahane and half-centurion Shikwar Dhawan, later, shared a convincing 183-run alliance for the first wicket. Rahane struck a commanding 106 to Dhawan's complementary 97 not out, with victory eventually arriving with all of 117 balls to spare.
"We were not tested because our fast bowlers bowled well initially in the game. Where they didn't bowl well, the spinners took the responsibility. So on and off it was good. Batting, we have kept improving from the first game, which I feel is important," said Dhoni.
"We will only see how much we will be tested. Testing is good, but you don't always want to be tested. You want to win games easily too, you don't always want to hang in until the 49th or 50th over.
"The good thing is, we have kept improving from the first ODI on. That's definitely a big positive. The fast bowlers bowled really well initially and gave us those early breakthroughs, because of which we were able to put pressure on their middle order. Overall, I'm very happy."
The fifth and final ODI will get underway at Headingley in Leeds on Friday. A one-off Twenty20 International will follow at Edgbaston 48 hours later.
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