Anderson bags four-for; Buttler claims five dismissals; Bell hits 88no
Tuesday 20 January 2015 15:49, UK
Steven Finn's maiden five-wicket haul in one-day international cricket put England on track for a thumping nine-wicket victory over India in the third match of the Carlton Mid Tri-Series, in Brisbane.
Middlesex seamer Finn took 5-33 from eight overs on a bouncy track while James Anderson returned 4-18 and wicketkeeper Jos Buttler bagged five victims as India were dismissed for 153 in just 39.3 overs.
In reply, Ian Bell eased to his 32nd ODI fifty and shared an unbroken 131-run partnership for the second wicket with James Taylor, the pair guiding England to victory over the World Cup champions with 135 balls in the bank to secure a bonus-point win.
Earlier, England made the ideal start after losing the toss when Anderson, back in the side in place of Chris Jordan, struck with the first ball of his second over when Shikhar Dhawan nicked behind to Buttler for a single.
The seamer’s first six overs cost just 10 runs as Ajinkya Rahane (33) and Ambati Rayudu (23) rebuilt in a patient second-wicket stand of 56 off 12.2 overs.
Rahane then rather gifted his wicket away, advancing down the wicket to Finn, and miscuing to mid-on and Virat Kohli (four) fell soon after, attempting to run the seamer down to third man.
At 64-3, India needed to consolidate but spinner Moeen Ali struck second ball, beating Suresh Raina with one that turned and left the advancing batsman stranded - Buttler completing the stumping.
Finn picked up his third wicket in the following over as Rayudu's lengthy stay of 53 balls came to an end as he edged a rising ball behind to put India in the mire at 67-5.
A sixth-wicket stand of 70 between Stuart Binny (44) and captain MS Dhoni (32) offered resistance before Finn returned to strike twice in as many balls.
Dhoni gloved a catch down the leg-side and Finn then bowled Axar Patel first ball with one that came back through the gate to hit off-stump. Anderson castled Bhuvneshwar Kumar in the next over before Morgan took a fine catch running back at mid-off to end Binny’s stay.
That wicket ensured that no bowler has taken more in ODI matches between England and India, Anderson moving one ahead of Flintoff’s previous record of 37. India were all out before the 40th over as Moeen Ali safely held a difficult chance on the deep midwicket rope to give Anderson his fourth wicket.
England had to bat for six overs before the interval and lost Moeen Ali in that time, caught at mid-off, off the bowling of Binny for eight.
But Bell eased to a run-a-ball fifty with five boundaries and looked increasingly fluent at the crease as he and Taylor took England towards their lowly target.
Dismissed for a first-ball duck in Friday's three-wicket defeat to Australia, Bell used his feet well against the slow left-armer Patel while Taylor accumulated steadily without taking risks.
Taylor duly reached his third ODI fifty off just 58 balls and paddled the winning boundary off Patel with over 22 overs remaining.
Watch England take on Australia in the fourth match of the Carlton Mid ODI series from 3am on Sky Sports 2.
