India set 257-run target for England in series decider

Headingley (Leeds) [UK] July 17 (ANI): India managed to notch up 256 runs on the board for the loss of eight wickets in the deciding One Day International (ODI) at the Headingley Carnegie Stadium on Tuesday.

Having been put to bat first, the Indian batting line fluttered from the start and barring a 71-run stand between Shikhar Dhawan and captain Virat Kohli, found it difficult to build a lasting partnership on the crease.

Having disappointed in the second ODI at Lords after back-to-back tons, Rohit Sharma was the first Indian batsman to return to the pavilion, after he was caught at deep square leg from a David Willey delivery.

Kohli walked into the crease and settled in quickly as he got off the mark with a boundary on his first delivery. With support from Dhawan, who was in fine touch on the other end, the two looked set to guide India towards a 300-plus score.

However, a mix-up between the two accounted for Dhawan's wicket as he was run out after Kohli signalled him to retreat after initiating a run. His lunge towards the crease, in the end, couldn't beat the direct hit.

Kohli, for the third time in the series, was done by spin as he was clean bowled by an Adil Rashid delivery. He finished as India's top run scorer, having scored 71 from 72 deliveries, including eight boundaries.

Mahendra Singh Dhoni's 42 from 66 balls, along with two 21-run contributions from Hardik Pandya and Bhuvneshwar Kumar and 22 runs from Shardul Thakur, helped drag India to a below-par 256.

The onus now rests on India' bowlers, especially the impressive spin unit comprising of Yuzvinder Chahal and Kuldeep Yadav, to defend the total and hand India a series victory ahead of the much-awaited Test series. (ANI)

This story has not been edited. It has been published as provided by ANI