Top order crumbles again, Dhoni motors India to safety

Jamshedpur, Apr 12 (UNI) Mahendra Singh Dhoni cherished his promotion into the opener's slot, hitting a swashbuckling 96 to take India to a modest 223 in face of a nagging and disciplined English attack at Keenan Stadium here today.

It was another spectacular top order collapse in the penultimate game of the seven-match series and the Indian score sports some semblance of respectability because of the fightback lead by Dhoni with able support from Ramesh Powar.

Promoted up the order, it was a treat to watch Dhoni's clynical demolition of the rival attack. He took a special fancy for Matthew Hoggard whom he knifed for three boundaries in an over. Dhoni hooked, pulled and drove at ease, swivelled on his back toe, moved on to his front foot and drove off his back, heaping misery on the English bowlers who were fishing for an answer to the Dhoni assault.

Earlier, a predictable slide of the top order followed, reducing India to 79 for five and bringing Dhoni and Romesh Powar together.

With wickets falling in a hurry at the other end, Dhoni curbed his natural aggression and began playing the balls on their merit, a sure sign of maturity of the marauder. But even when tied down, Dhoni reached his 50 off only 63 balls with seven hits to the fence.

As Dhoni blossomed in the heat of the steel city, the petals of English attack wilted before the sure assiduous attack. Three sixes struck with power and disdain effectively summed up Dhoni's innings as he vanquished his challengers to the borders of ignominy.

With Power in company, the duo reached the 50-run partnership for the sixth wicket with Dhoni doing the bulk of the scoring. The team reached its 150 in 32.3 overs.

Dhoni unleashed himself after regaining some stability and the partnership reached 100 off just 93 balls, with Dhoni seven short of his fourth ODI ton.

However, he perished playing half-cock to a delivery that bounced off the deck and gave a looping catch at short midwicket to Vikram Solanki. Sajid Mehmood was the bowler. A rather soft dismissal at 96 for a batsman who wields his bat like an axe that produced 10 boundaries.

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