Virat Kohli scored a brilliant 107 as India made 304-6 off their 50 overs after being put in to bat by England in the fifth and final one-day international here Friday. Kohli brought up his sixth career ton off just 87 balls as India recovered after a slow start to dominate England’s attack at Sophia Gardens. Rahul Dravid, playing his 344th and final one-day international, weighed in with a valuable 69 off 79 balls before being bowled by Graeme Swann as India chased their first victory of the summer against England.
India piled on the agony for England’s bowlers late on, with skipper MS Dhoni scoring 50 off just 26 balls as the tourists left the home side with a daunting target in the day-night match. India had a lucky escape early in the innings, when Ajinka Rahane’s thick outside edge flew straight to Samit Patel at third man only for the Nottinghamshire all-rounder to spill a straightforward catch. Yet England did not have long to wait for the breakthrough, Jade Dernbach tempting Rahane into a mishit flick which was brilliantly caught by Steven Finn running in from the boundary to leave India 52-1. Rahane’s departure heralded the arrival at the crease of Dravid, who received a stirring ovation in his farewell match.
However India were soon in trouble as Parthiv Patel holed out to mid-on in Swann’s first over as England kept the brakes on the touring side’s run rate. Yet the entrance of Kohli swung the match back in India’s favour, with the talented 22-year-old flaying England’s attack to all corners of the ground in a knock which included eight boundaries and one six. Kohli’s innnings finally ended in the 44th over when he was out hit wicket off Swann to leave India on 236-4. Yet any hopes of an English fightback were ruthlessly snuffed out by Dhoni, whose stylish half-century featuring five boundaries and two sixes left the home side needing 305 to win.
