SOUTHAMPTON: Skipper Rahul Dravid's decision to bowl backfired badly as India slumped to a comprehensive 104-run defeat in the first cricket one-dayer against England at the Rose Bowl here.
Alastair Cook and Ian Bell made the most of a true pitch under a relatively clear sky to hit classy centuries and propel England to a commanding 288 for two. India's seasoned batsmen were then found wanting against the moving white ball under the lights and ended up with 184 to let the hosts go 1-0 up in the seven-match series.
Opener Cook made a well paced 102 while Bell hit an aggressive 126 not out as the England top order batsmen exposed the inexperienced Indian attack. India's chase was all but over once they were reduced to 34-4 by the 12th over with James Anderson, England's best bowler in the three-Test series, ripping the top order apart while finishing up with figures of 4 for 23.
Dravid, top scorer with 46, and vice-captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni (19 rpt 19) then led a minor recovery with a 68-run stand but once the two fell in the space of seven balls, the issue was sealed. The teams now move to Bristol for another day-night clash. Cook and Bell put on 178 runs for the second wicket that set up the match for the hosts. For 23-year-old Cook, it was his maiden hundred in limited overs cricket, his runs coming from 126 balls with eight fours.
Interestingly, Cook had also notched up his first Test century against the Indians, on his debut at Nagpur last year. Bell, who struggled with the bat in the Test series, redeemed himself with an attacking knock, scoring his runs from 118 balls with 10 fours and a six. So, Kevin Pietersen was not required to unleash his big hits.
Yet, his 33 came off only 25 balls. The unbroken third-wicket stand between Bell and Pietersen was worth 67 runs and 78 came off the last 10 overs. All Indian bowlers without exception were expensive. Zaheer Khan, whose first eight overs had decent figures of 1-33, went for 16 runs in the last two overs. -PTI
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