Ind vs Eng: India thrash England by 127 runs, level series 1-1

NEW DELHI: Chasing a challenging 286, England were bundled out for mere 158, helping India secure a big morale boosting win in the second ODI in Kochi on Tuesday. Scorecard England batsmen collapsed like pack of cards against a disciplined Indian attack after the hosts posted 285/6. Bhuvneshwar Kumar and R Ashwin claimed three wickets each while Ravindra Jadeja bagged two wickets. R Ashwin's double-blow reduced England to 135/9 as India look all set to level series with a big victory in the second ODI in Kochi on Tuesday. Ravindra Jadeja, who had great time with the ball earlier during the day, struck with the leather twice in the 31st over, dismissing Joe Root and Chris Woakes. Jadeja bowled out Root before trapping Woakes leg before wickets, raising hope for a series-leveling victory. After Bhuvneshwar's ferocious show, R Ashwin added to England's worries by removing Craig Kieswetter just after the visitors crossed 100-mark. Ashwin got his first victim Kieswestter caught by Raina to reduce England to 110/5. Earlier, Bhuvneshwar Kumar rocked England's chase with his triple-strike. He scalped Alastair Cook, Kevin Pietersen and Eoin Morgan in quick succession to derail England's chase. Kumar trapped Cook (17) leg before wickets, bowled out Pietersen (42) and got Morgan (0) caught behind to reduce England to 73/4 in 15 overs after India set a challenging 286. After the early wicket of Ian Bell who was dismissed by Shami Ahmed, Cook and Pietersen took England past 50-run mark. The duo shared 54-run stand before Kumar struck in the 11th over to get rid of Cook. In his next over Kumar struck twice. First he ended Pietersen's challenge and then scalped Morgan without allowing him to get off the mark. Earlier, late charge by skipper MS Dhoni and Ravindra Jadeja guided India to a challenging 285/6. While Jadeja stayed unbeaten after a fiery 61(37) Dhoni scored 72 (66), demolishing England attack in slog overs. India pulled off 80 runs in last eight overs including 20 off the final over. Dhoni blasted a 66-ball 72 laced with seven fours and two sixes, to take his team past the 250-run mark after they were reduced to 119-4 in 26.2 overs. Dhoni featured in two crucial partnerships --- first adding 55 runs with Suresh Raina and then 96 runs with Ravindra Jadeja for the fifth and sixth wickets respectively. Middle-order batsman Raina also cracked a well-paced half-century off 78 balls, studded with two sixes and a couple of fours, to initially steady the innings along with Dhoni having come into bat at No 5. However, it was in the last 10 overs which gave the hosts the impetus as Dhoni and allrounder Ravindra Jadeja, amassed 108 runs, to put the team in a comfortable position after they decided to bat first. Steven Finn was the top wickettaker for England as he took two wickets for 51 runs, while James Tredwell bowled really well, taking one wicket for 48 runs. Jade Dernbach and Chris Woakes were expensive but snapped two and one wicket to contribute to the team. Earlier, India had a tottering start as they were reduced to 18 for two by the English pace duo of Finn and Dernbach. Gautam Gambhir (8) and Ajinkya Rahane (4) paid the price for their poor footwork as both were cleaned bowled by Dernbach and Finn respectively. While, Gambhir failed to defend an incoming delivery from Finn, Rahane tried to play too away from the body, leaving a huge gap which was breached by the inswinger from Dernbach. Virat Kohli and Yuvraj Singh then tried to steady the ship and added 53 runs off 65 balls for the third wicket. However, the left-handed batsman was adjudged leg-before wicket by umpire Steve Davis despite the fact that Tredwell's delivery had kissed Yuvraj's glove while he attempted a sweep shot. Yuvraj hit five fours in his 37-ball innings. Raina then joined Kohli and the duo forged another 48-run stand for the fifth wicket and helped India cross the 100-run mark. But Kohli then threw his wicket in pursuit of an ambitious shot. Soon it was left to Raina and Dhoni once again to stem the rot and the duo did not disappoint, taking the hosts across the 150-run mark. Raina brought up his fifty in 66 balls with a boundary in the backward point region but in pursuit of quick runs, he lost his off-stump to Finn in the 40th over. After the 35th over, India took their batting Powerplay but the home team failed to make use of it, accumulating only 18 runs off the four overs. Dhoni and Jadeja then decided to accelarate and picked up a six and a four among them in the 43rd over to take India across the 200-mark. Jadeja blasted a six and a couple of fours off Woakes in the 45th over to amass 14 runs, while Dhoni picked up a couple of boundaries of Finn in the 47th over. In the last five overs, the duo accumulated 68 runs as India posted a challenging score for the visitors. TOI