Rahane seals India rout of England

Ajinkya Rahane’s maiden one-day international hundred has set the seal on a crushing nine-wicket series-clinching win over England in the fourth ODI at Edgbaston.

Tuesday’s victory took world champions India to an unassailable 3-0 lead in the five-match series.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar took two early wickets, a double blow from which England never recovered as they were dismissed for a meagre 206.

Rahane (106) and Shikhar Dhawan (97 not out) then pulverised England’s attack in an opening stand of 183.

“It was a very tough day,” England captain Alastair Cook told Sky Sports.

“India have outskilled us, bowled better, batted better and fielded better.”

Delighted India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni said his side had played a “perfect game again”, with Rahane seizing his chance to open in place of the injured Rohit Sharma.

“We’re getting better and that’s very important,” Dhoni said.

“It was a good toss to win and the fast bowlers made it slightly easier for the spinners.

“We rely a lot on our openers so it was good to get Shikhar back in form – I’m very glad he got a big one (innings) in this game.

“Rahane was always third in line to open if Rohit or Shikhar was injured. It is a good slot for him and maybe now we can have Rohit in the middle order.”

India gave their raucous fans, who accounted for some two-thirds of a 21,000 crowd, plenty to cheer with a blizzard of boundaries at the start of their run-chase.

Rahane hit four fours in five balls off James Anderson – the best an off-drive.

Left-hander Dhawan, who struggled for runs in India’s preceding 3-1 Test series defeat by England, then struck a superb straight drive off fast bowler Steven Finn.

Off-spinner Moeen Ali wasn’t spared either, Rahane slog-sweeping him for six to complete a 60-ball fifty.

Dhawan too went to fifty, off 57 balls, with a six straight back over Anderson’s head.

Rahane then completed a first century in 33 matches at this level, having faced 96 balls, including nine fours and four sixes.

But just when it seemed India would inflict England’s first home ODI defeat by 10 wickets, Rahane drove a Gurney full toss straight to Cook at cover.

However, Dhawan sealed an emphatic win with more than 19 overs to spare when he smashed left-arm seamer Harry Gurney for six.

The defeat meant England have now lost five of their last six ODI series.

This series, which marks the start of both teams’ lead-in to next year’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, concludes at Headingley on Friday.

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