Cricket: India Gain Opening ODI Win Over England, with 126 Run Victory in Hyderabad

India went some way to exorcising the ghosts which lingered following their torrid tour to England, by producing an excellent all-round performance in Hyderabad to defeat England by 126 runs, in the opening One Day International match of their five day series, on Friday 14th October 2011.

Back on home soil, India shook off their batting troubles – most exposed in the cold climate of the United Kingdom this summer – to post an impressive score of 300 for 7 from their 50 overs.

It took another captain’s performance from Dhoni to really push their advantage, as he posted a decent top score of 87 Not Out from number 6, following starts for Gambhir (32), Kohli (37) and Raina (67) after a slightly anxious opening pairing of Patel (9) and Rahane (15 off 41 deliveries) had threatened a continuation of India’s abject form against England this season.

But it was the fast work of numbers 5 and 6, Raina and Dhoni – two players who came out with at least some credit from the summer term – who put on 148 runs between them, from just 135 English deliveries which was to set the two teams apart.

Having been set a target of 301 for the win, England, once they lost Alistair Cook (60), were routinely picked off by an India side more comfortable on home turf once more, particularly with the ball gripping and turning as it is apt on the subcontinent.

The pick of India’s bowlers were spinners Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja, who both picked up three wickets, though they were ably supported by 23 year old quick Umesh Yadav, who collected a couple of late wickets in his fourth ODI to record figures of 2/32, his best yet. It was Jadeja’s slow left arm which inflicted the major damage to England, though, as he removed the danger men of Cook (60) and Trott (26) while only three other Englishmen made it into double figures.

In stark contrast to India, England’s 5 and 6 could put on just 11 runs as Bopara (8) and Bairstow (3) were both caught and bowled by Ashwin and Jadeja respectively, signalling the end of England’s chances.

There was to be no sting in England’s tail, as Yashwin took out both S Patel (16) and the occasional all-rounder Graeme Swann (8) before Steve Finn (18 Not Out) ran out of partners when Ashwin bowled Dernbach (2), with England still 126 ruins short of the mark, on 174 All Out from just 36.1 overs.

India will be hoping for more of the same from the remaining four ODIs. Even as World Champions, they will need it to restore faith in a team still licking it’s wounds from a difficult English summer of cricket.

If you’re only as good as your last game, India look to be a solid cricket team once more.

India v England – 1st ODI – Friday 14 October 2011 – Match Scorecard