India thrash England by 127 runs

India finally found their winning touch as they relied on a brilliant all-round display to thrash England by 127 runs in the second cricket one-dayer in Kochi on Tuesday.

India posted a competitive 285, riding on captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s 72 and Ravindra Jadeja’s 61, before the bowlers bundled out the visitors for a paltry 158 in just 36 overs to level the five-match series 1-1.

The hosts did well in all departments of the game, though the batting of the top-order continued to be a concern with Gautam Gambhir (8) and Ajinkya Rahane (4) failing to deliver while the form of Virat Kohli remained patchy though he scored 37.

It was Dhoni’s 66-ball 72 and Jadeja’s blistering unbeaten knock of 61 in just 37 balls, which provided the late flourish to the Indian innings. Suresh Raina (55) and Yuvraj Singh (32), who was distinctly unlucky to be given lbw, were the other notable contributors.

With the Nehru Stadium providing ample assistance to the bowlers in the second-half, the Indians exploited the conditions to the hilt to bundle out the visitors with Kevin Pietersen being the top-scorer with a 58-ball 42.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar (3/29), R. Ashwin (3/39) and Jadeja (2/12) were the pick of the Indian bowlers to give the hosts a resounding victory in front of a capacity crowd.

The two teams will now travel to Ranchi for the third ODI to be played on January 19.