Published on 12:00 AM, January 20, 2017

Yuvraj, Dhoni power India to series win

Yuvraj Singh made his first century since 2011 with a 127-ball 156, while MS Dhoni scored 134 as the pair put on 256 runs in 38.2 overs for the fourth wicket against England in the second ODI in Cuttack yesterday. PHOTO: AFP
Afp, Cuttack

Veterans Yuvraj Singh and Mahendra Singh Dhoni turned back the clock with blistering centuries to set up India's series clinching 15-run win against England in the second one-day international in Cuttack on Thursday.

England skipper Eoin Morgan struck a valiant 102 as the visitors, who were chasing 382 for victory, gave the hosts a scare after they ended the reply on 366-8.

With England requiring 46 off the final three overs the visitors stood an outside chance but Morgan's unfortunate run out in the penultimate over ended their hopes.

The left-handed batsman hit 6 fours and 5 sixes during his 81-ball blitz.

But it was the 256-run fourth-wicket partnership between Yuvraj (150) and Dhoni (134) that handed India an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series.

The left-handed Yuvraj, who is making a comeback in the ODI side after a gap of three years, counterattacked after India were in early trouble at 25 for three.

Yuvraj, who last scored a hundred against West Indies in the 2011 World Cup, recorded his 14th ODI century as he smacked 21 fours and three sixes in a 127-ball knock.

Dhoni, who survived a dropped catch on 43, made the most of the reprieve to post his 10th ODI hundred as he hit 10 fours and 6 sixes.

Yuvraj was caught behind off Woakes while Dhoni fell to Liam Plunkett but their departure was scant consolation to the England bowlers who were all carted around the park.

In England's innings, Jason Roy (82) and Joe Root (54) put on 100 runs for the second wicket to try and set up the chase but the Indian spinners struck back to dent the opposition's hopes.

It was then that Morgan rose to the occasion with an exemplary showing as he put on 93 runs for the sixth wicket with Moeen Ali (55) to keep the chase alive.

But the pressure of keeping pace with the ever-increasing run rate finally got to the visiting side as Plunkett remained unbeaten on 27.

SCORES IN BRIEF

INDIA: 381 for 6 (Yuvraj 150, Dhoni 134, Jadhav 22; Woakes 4-60, Plunkett 2-91)

ENGLAND: 366 for 8 (Morgan 102, Roy 82, Moeen 55; Ashwin 3-65, Bumrah 2-81, Jadeja 1-45)

Result: India won by 15 runs

Player-of-the-match: Yuvraj Singh

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