Rahane century sees India secure series

Cricket365
September 3, 2014

India won the fourth ODI against England by nine wickets on Tuesday, easily taming the home bowlers as they chased down the 207 required in less than 31 overs, thanks to an Ajinkya Rahane maiden ODI century.

England had been bowled out for 206 earlier on, a dismal display on that turned out to be a good batting track at Edgbaston, and then India put on 183 for the first wicket alone as Rahane and Shikhar Dhawan (97 not out) dominated.

India won the toss and put England in to bat, and the hosts were soon three down for less than 25. Alex Hales was bowled for six and Alastair Cook departed for nine, both removed by Bhuvneshwar Kumar.

Gary Ballance, in the side for an injured Ian Bell, was out for seven, leaving Joe Root and Eoin Morgan to try and steady the ship. The pair put on 80 runs for the fourth wicket, but not at a very quick pace, at less than four to the over.

Morgan was out for 32 though, to Ravi Jadeja, and Root soon followed for 44, out to Suresh Raina, as India's part-time spinners again confounded England. Form there on out it was only Moeen Ali who resisted.

The Worcestershire all-rounder scored 67, showing the India batsmen that the pitch was not full of demons, as the rest of the order were bagged for single figures. The final wicket to fall was that of Harry Gurney, who became Mohammed Shami's third victim.

The chase was straightforward for India, as Dhawan recorded his first half ton of the tour, having struggled mightily all trip. He and Rahane were imperious, and the latter bagged his first ODI century, off 96 balls and including four sixes.

Dhawan ended three runs short of his ton, with Rahane going out right at the end for 106, smashing with winning 10 runs in two balls, ending with a straight six off Gurney, who went at nearly eight to the over.