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MS Dhoni fires as India break jinx at New Hyderabad Stadium

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MS Dhoni HyderabadIndia tasted its first ever victory at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad and thus breaking the jinx that this relatively new stadium located in the outskirts of the city was a losing venue for any hosting side. Deccan Chargers, the Hyderabad franchise in the IPL barely managed to break the jinx at this venue and on Friday, Team India finally registered their first win in their fourth ODI here. It was a crushing 126-run win for Dhoni’s team as the two spinners Ashwin and Jadeja ran through the English batting line-up under the lights once India had given them a stiff target of 301 from 50 overs.

Skipper MS Dhoni led the way for India with a well paced unbeaten knock of 87 from 70 balls with 10 fours and a six. Suresh Raina provided the impetus to the innings with a 55-ball 61 (with 5 fours and 2 sixes) which helped India towards a match winning total of 300 for 7 on what was a slow pitch at Hyderabad. India had a slow start and at one stage they were 123 for 4 in the 29th over having won the toss and elected to bat first. It was Dhoni’s partnerships with Suresh Raina and Ravindra Jadeja (27 from 22 balls with 1 four and 2 sixes) that provided a superb finish for the hosts. For the visitors, Graeme Swann bowled well for his 10-1-35-1.

England were on the backfoot in their run chase after losing the attacking Craig Kieswetter and Kevin Pietesen (who was brilliantly run out by Ashwin from mid on) early in the innings. Despite a solid 60 from 63 balls (with 7 fours) from Skipper Alastair Cook, England couldn’t quite get the launchpad towards the target. England collapsed from 111 for 2 in the 23rd over to 174 all out by the 37th over! Spinner R Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja used the slowness of the pitch to good affect by taking three wickets each. Fast bowler Umesh Yadav picked up a couple of wickets as well.

India’s Skipper MS Dhoni got the Man of the Match award for his powerful knock in the first half. This match saw the new ICC Rules come into effect with two different balls used at the two bowling ends and the Bowling and Batting Powerplays to be taken anywhere between the 16th and the 40th over! Team India had the first experience of the rules as they found the going slightly tough in the first half of their innings. However, the hardness of the two balls made it easy towards the slog overs.