India start in style

India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni hits one through the square during the first ODI against England in Hyderabad yesterday.
Dhoni scored 87 not out as India set up 300 from fifty overs. Photo: Internet

India exacted some measure of revenge for their chastening tour of England with a massive 126-run win over the same opponents in the first one-day-international of their return tour at the Rajiv Gandhi Stadium in Hyderabad yesterday.
Batting first, India put up a challenging total of exactly 300 for the loss of seven wickets in their stipulated 50 overs thanks mainly to captain MS Dhoni's aggressive 87 not out. Dhoni's fourth half-century in as many games took India from a slightly troublesome position of 139 for four after 34 overs to post a tough target on a pitch that was rapidly deteriorating. Dhoni was ably supported by the left-handed Suresh Raina who scored an equally punchy 61 from 55 balls.
England initially looked to be in the running especially as Alastair Cook continued his impressive form as England captain with a brisk 60 but as soon as he perished, a dramatic collapse aided mostly by Ravindra Jadeja saw them crash to 126 for 6 in 27 overs. From then on it was only a matter of time, as the Indians completed the formality bowling out their recent conquerors for 174.
SCORES IN BRIEF
INDIA: 300 for 7 (Rahane 15, Gambhir 32, Kohli 37, Raina 61, Dhoni 87 not out, Jadeja 27; Swann 1-35)
ENGLAND: 174 all out (Cook 60, Pietersen 19, Trott 26, Patel 16, Finn 18; Yadav 2-32, Ashwin 3-35, Jadeja 3-34)
Result: India won by 126 runs.
Man-of-the-match: Mahendra Singh Dhoni.