CHESTER-LE-STREET: India were left feeling hard done by after heavy rain led to the first one-day International against England being abandoned here on Saturday following the first commanding performance by the visitors on this tour. After a 4-0 drubbing in the Test series and defeat in the lone T20 International, the Indians had their tails up after putting 274 on the board on being asked to bat by England.
In reply, England were 27 for two in 7.2 overs when rain first stopped play. Match officials first announced that the home team would be given a revised target of 224 from 32 overs and at this stage, England needed 197 from 23.4 overs. But it started drizzling again and the target was further revised, with England being asked to make 164 runs from 20 overs, which meant scoring 137 from the remaining 12.4 overs.
India would have fancied their chances in such a scenario but no sooner was the announcement made, it started raining again and the match was abandoned.
India’s charge with the bat was led by opener Parthiv Patel and Virat Kohli, both scoring impressed half-centuries and Parthiv missing out on a well-deserved ton by just five runs. The team ran out of steam a bit at the end of their innings but Suresh Raina and skipper Dhoni did enough to ensure that the team reached 274/7 at the end of their 50 overs.
Parthiv Patel was quite tense when the team management informed him on Friday night that he would be opening the innings, but his fears turned out to be unfounded. Considering the fact that there was no Sachin Tendulkar in the lineup, the pressure was immense on the all-new opening pair of Parthiv (95) and Ajinkya Rahane (40 off 44 balls). They stuck to the task, managing the highest opening stand (of 82) in 10 innings on the current England tour across all formats, and the first impressive one since the Lord’s Test in July.
Then Virat Kohli joined Parthiv, the pair adding another 103 off 117 balls. With Parthiv’s dismissal – after having faced 107 balls and struck 12 fours – India lost the momentum. Both Parthiv and Kohli fell to soft dismissals, Parthiv being caught-behind off James Anderson to a delivery that just moved enough from the left-hander and Kohli (55; 73 balls, 4×4) gifting his wicket to Samit Patel. Lower down, Suresh Raina (38 off 29) steadied the ship with some trademark shots, being well supported by MS Dhoni (33 off 36), though the Indian innings lacked punch towards the end.
England won the toss and elected to field in overcast conditions. India started off cautiously, with the England pace attack hardly offering any room. Both Parthiv and Rahane curbed their natural instincts and paced their innings well. Parthiv was fortunate when he was dropped when on 7 by local debutant Ben Stokes off Tim Bresnan, but thereafter, the batsmen took control, even hooking and pulling the shorter ones on a pitch where the ball seemed to sit up.
Dravid was given out in controversial fashion, while Rohit Sharma had to leave the field after being struck on the finger by Broad. Anderson was the pick of the English bowlers, though Broad bagged two and Bresnan got going in the last over with two dismissals.
The teams now head to the Rose Bowl in Southampton for the second ODI on Tuesday.
PIYUSH YADAV 