Yuvraj Singh England Slump As Yuvraj Takes Charge Yuvraj Leads India To 54 Run Victory
ENGLAND'S formula for one-day success was brutally exposed for a second successive match, with Yuvraj Singh producing another dominant display to secure an emphatic 54-run victory for India.
Just three days after hitting an unbeaten 138 in a 158-run victory in Rajkot, man-of-the-match Yuvraj provided evidence of his all-round skills.
His 118 off 122 balls helped India recover from a perilous 29 for three to reach a commanding 292 for nine, and then his underrated left-arm spin exposed England's technique on turning pitches to claim four for 28 as the tourists were dismissed for 238.
India have exposed major flaws in the game-plan which proved so successful for England in beating South Africa 4-0 in vastly different conditions two months ago.
"Playing in England is a bit easier because the ball is seaming, swinging and bouncing," said England captain Kevin Pietersen. "Here it's difficult, but I'm not stupid enough to think it would be similar out here."
It could have been so different had England built on a promising start, with Stuart Broad claiming three wickets in a five-over new-ball spell to leave India reeling on 29 for three.
But for the second successive match Yuvraj came in and played almost faultlessly, remaining patient to begin with before accelerating during a crucial partnership of 134 off 126 balls with opener Gautam Gambhir.
England's decision to play an unchanged side and field only one spinner backfired badly as India progressed to another daunting total. Even after Yuvraj finally fell with six overs remaining having hit 15 fours and two sixes, he had established a platform for all-rounder Yusuf Pathan to hit an unbeaten 50 from 29 balls and help add 82 in the final ten overs.
"I think we definitely failed to capitalise on our start, but then again when you've got a guy batting like Yuvraj Singh it's pretty difficult," admitted Pietersen.
Brutal as their batting was, it was the examination by spin which underlined the vast gap in class between the two sides, with India delivering 27 overs of spin and claiming nine for 119. After England lost opener Ian Bell to a run-out in the first over, Owais Shah and Matt Prior successfully rebuilt the innings with a 50-run partnership off 66 balls to give them renewed hope.
But from the moment Indian captain MS Dhoni utilised Yuvraj's left-arm spin in tandem with Harbhajan Singh, the run rate slowed considerably, though Pietersen and Andrew Flintoff briefly threatened.
Related : Yuvraj Singh England Slump As Yuvraj Takes Charge Yuvraj Leads India To 54 Run Victory, Yusuf Pathan, Ind vs Eng, Live Cricket India vs England, Watch Live Cricket, England vs India
Comments