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Preview: An under-fire India will be hoping to get their act together in the virtual semifinal against a better-placed England in the final league match of the cricket tri-series today. Lucky to share two points with Australia (who are already in the finals) in the washed off game in Sydney, the Mahendra Singh Dhoni-led side will not only try to address its bowling worries but also try to pull up its batting socks. Failing to register a win in the league stage so far, the Indian bowlers were unable to defend their 267 runs in their first match, while the team was shot for 153 in the second game against England. All eyes were on Rohit Sharma’s fitness after the opener failed to take part in the last two ODIs post a fluent 138 in the team’s opener against the hosts but the team management is not looking to risk his strained hamstring so close to the World Cup. [caption id=“attachment_2071331” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]
File picture of Shikhar Dhawan. AP[/caption] After undergoing a fitness test at WACA yesterday, Rohit batted in the nets for a while today and did look comfortable. But surprisingly he is still unavailable for selection for this upcoming match. Ajinkya Rahane has shown flexibility with the think-tank still tinkering with the team’s batting order as Ambati Rayudu looks uncomfortable at the number three position. Shikhar Dhawan’s batting form has also contributed to India’s dismal showing in the ODIs as the left-handed opener has just managed 11 runs in three matches to give the team a big reason to worry before the World Cup. Dhawan enjoyed a brilliant outing in the 2013 Champions Trophy in England, scoring back-to-back hundreds that helped him accumulate 363 runs in just five matches at an average of 90.75. He won the man-of-the-tournament award back then, but ever since it has been downhill. The rest of the cast has also not been consistent and Virat Kohli is still trying to find his groove at the No.4 spot that the Indian think-tank seems to be settling him into. Even after getting stick from the Australian batsmen in the Test matches and the Indian critics, the bowlers still continue to leak runs without picking many wickets. With Ishant Sharma, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Umesh Yadav and Mohammed Shami still trying to find the right length all through the Australian summer, spinners Akshar Patel and Ravichandran Ashwin find little help from the fast-paced tracks. Ishant though is expected to be given a run-in again after missing out due to the weather in Sydney. A bowling all-rounder is what India have been searching for and if Stuart Binny – who scored a valiant 44 and picked up the only wicket to fall in a losing cause against England – can deliver, then the Men in Blue will fancy their chances against Eoin Morgan and company. England though also have had a patchy run in this tournament so far but have certainly looked much better than India on the field. Getting a bonus point against Dhoni and company in the nine-wicket win in Brisbane has been their high-point so far as they lost both their ODIs against arch-rivals Australia. With five points from three games, England certainly have the upper hand in the knockout game but WACA is always a different ball game for any visiting side. Their bowling led by James Anderson has made the right noises before the 50-over showpiece event but the batting form of most of their top stars has been inconsistent. Opener Ian Bell though tops the run-scorers list in this series so far, with 229 runs from three matches - a ton and a half-century. All-rounder Moeen Ali provides England with not only a good opening batting option but also gives them the vital breakthroughs with his wily off-spinners. So going by the performances so far, England do start as favourites in the upcoming clash but India have a golden chance to reverse the trend this weekend and re-start their World Cup campaign on a more positive note. Teams India: MS Dhoni (c & wk), Shikhar Dhawan, Ajinkya Rahane, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Ambati Rayudu, Suresh Raina, Stuart Binny, Akshar Patel, Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Ishant Sharma, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mohammad Shami, Umesh Yadav, Dhawal Kulkarni, Mohit Sharma. England: Eoin Morgan (c), Moeen Ali, James Anderson, Gary Ballance, Ian Bell, Ravi Bopara, Stuart Broad, Jos Buttler (wk), Steven Finn, Alex Hales, Chris Jordan, Joe Root, James Taylor, James Tredwell, Chris Woakes. Match starts - 8.50 AM IST. PTI
As it happened: India end tri-series without a win after three-wicket loss to England
England do start as favourites in the upcoming clash but India have a golden chance to reverse the trend this weekend and re-start their World Cup campaign on a more positive note.
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After 46 overs, England 196/7 (Woakes 2, Broad 1)
A very good bouncer first up to Broad who looks to duck but it flicks his arm guard on the way to the keeper. They all go up in a huge appeal but the umpire rightly says no. Shami they bowls a fiery bouncer which is called a no ball. Broad then takes a single to the leg side to get off the mark. Woakes takes a single to deep point to make it 3 runs and a wicket off the over. England need just 5 now!
OUT! Huge wicket for India. Is there a twist in the tale? JC Buttler c Rayudu b Mohammed Shami 67 (78b 7×4 0x6) After 45.2 overs, England 193/7 (Woakes 1)
A tad full delivery outside off, Buttler looks to go inside out and lofts it straight into the hands of Rayudu at deep point. Crucial breakthrough……
Stuart Broad is the new batsman.
After 45 overs, England 193/6 (Buttler 67, Woakes 1)
Two singles off the Akshar Patel over. England need just 8 runs to win from 30 balls.
After 44 overs, England 191/6 (Taylor 82, Woakes 0)
A wicket maiden from Mohit. Good stuff…..
OUT! India finally get a wicket but it’s too little too late. J Taylor c Binny b Sharma 82 (163m 122b 4×4 0x6) After 43.2 overs, England 191/6 (Buttler 66) England need 10 more to win.
Bouncer from Mohit, Taylor goes back and looks to pull, he doesn’t go hard at it and gets a top edge, Binny settles under it and takes a very good catch. A very good innings comes to an end.
Chris Woakes is the new batsman.
After 43 overs, England 191/5 (Taylor 82, Buttler 66)
After three runs off the first three balls, Buttler unfurls a reverse sweep and gets a boundary. He then survives a run out as he again plays a reverse sweep but this time straight to the short third man. They scamper through for a quick single. There is a direct hit at the bowler’s end but replays show that Buttler just made it. The ball ricocheted to the boundary which meant 5 runs. Taylor takes a single off the last ball to make it 13 runs off the over.
After 42 overs, England 178/5 (Taylor 78, Buttler 57)
Sensible from England 5 singles off the over. Still no Binny into the attack….He’s done most of the damage with 3 wickets. England running away with just 23 required!
After 41 overs, England 173/5 (Taylor 75, Buttler 55)
A couple off the first ball and then three consecutive singles. Taylor then dances down the track and whips it through mid-wicket for a boundary. A single off the final ball makes it 10 runs off the over. It’s all too easy for the England batsmen. They are running away with it.
After 40 overs, England 163/5 (Taylor 69, Buttler 51)
Buttler is on the move! Gets to his 6th ODI fifty in style with consecutive boundaries. He at first drives one firmly down the ground for a boundary and then lofts one just over the head of mid on fielder for a risky boundary to bring up his half-century. 9 runs off the over. England did well in the Batting Powerplay – 22/0.
After 39 overs, England 154/5 (Taylor 69, Buttler 42)
After a couple of dot balls, Taylor dances down the track, Akshar pushes it quicker and Taylor somehow gets bat on it on his paddle for a boundary. He then cuts one to deep point for a quick couple. The last one is short and quick, Taylor goes for a pull but gets a top edge which falls safely towards the leg slip region. 6 runs off the over. Taylor needs to be calm, England have done well to no let build the pressure so far.
After 38 overs, England 148/5 (Taylor 63, Buttler 42)
Taylor playing the pull with good assertion. Plays one to deep mid-wicket for a couple and then controls one to deep square leg for a single. Buttler couldn’t find gaps on his crisp cover drives.
After 37 overs, England 145/5 (Taylor 60, Buttler 42)
Akshar keeping it very flat in that over. The batsmen pretty content at playing on the back foot. Three singles off the over.
After 36 overs, England 142/5 (Taylor 58, Buttler 41)
A good over from Shami. Just one run off it and he beat Buttler twice on his drive. England need to make sure they see off this Batting powerplay without any stutter.
After 35 overs, England 141/5 (Taylor 57, Buttler 41)
India slowing losing it out in the middle. So far, the ground fielding had been good, but a misfield gives England n extra run. Four more singles make it 6 runs from the over. Good rotation of strike from Taylor and Buttler. Taylor using his feet to good effect.
After 34 overs, England 135/5 (Taylor 53, Buttler 39)
Four runs off the over. A couple of singles and a 2. England need 66 from 16 overs. This is all too easy for the batsmen. India need a breakthrough desperately.
After 33 overs, England 131/5 (Taylor 50, Buttler 38)
Three singles off the Mohit over, one in which Taylor got to his fifty.
After 32 overs, England 128/5 (Taylor 48, Buttler 37)
Taylor using his feet to good effect. Three singles off the over. It’s not looking threatening for the batsmen at all. Dhoni needs to get Binny back. India need a wicket now.
After 31 overs, England 125/5 (Taylor 46, Buttler 36)
Mohit missing his lengths in his comeback over. After a couple of singles off the first four balls, Mohit overpitches one and Buttler crunches it through extra cover for a boundary. 6 runs off the over.
After 30 overs, England 119/5 (Taylor 45, Buttler 31)
The Jadeja ploy is not working. 8 runs off the over. After Taylor takes a single, Buttler guides one delicately past the short third man fielder for a boundary. The next four balls yield 3 singles.
After 29 overs, England 111/5 (Taylor 43, Buttler 25)
Akshar pushes the first one quicker, Taylor misses his flick and a stifled appeal for a LBW is turned down. Taylor then paddles one to fine leg for a single. Buttler pulls one off the top edge to fine leg for a couple. Another 5-run over.
After 28 overs, England 106/5 (Taylor 40, Buttler 23)
Still, Dhoni hasn’t done anything to stem the flow of singles. 5 singles off the over. All too easy for the batsmen.
After 27 overs, England 101/5 (Taylor 37, Buttler 21)
Buttler trying to be aggressive against Jadeja. The first one is full, Buttler drives it through extra cover and it races away to the fence. Terrific placement. He then goes for a reverse sweep but it’s straight to 1st slip where Raina drops a tough chance. Buttler then looks to cut one but misses. 4 runs off the over.