Thaindian News

Mohali, Oct 20 (IANS) Riding on an unbeaten 98 from Jonathan Trott and half centuries from Samit Patel and Kevin Pietersen, England posted a challenging 298 for four in 50 overs in the third ODI against India at the PCA Stadium here Thursday.

England captain Alastair Cook (3), opting to bat first, failed to give the visitors a good start and departed in the fourth over after being trapped leg-before by in-form pacer R. Vinay Kumar.

Trott and Craig Kieswetter (36) then stabilised the England innings with their 53-run stand. Kiestwetter was clean bowled by part-time medium pacer Virat Kohli.

Trott, however, kept going and stitched crucial partnerships with Kevin Peietersen (64), Ravi Bopara (24) and Samit Patel (70 not out), his maiden ODI half-century, to give the England bowlers a good target to defend.

Pietersen hit a 61-ball 64 with the help of nine fours and added 101-runs with Trott for the third wicket. Left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja trapped Pietersen to break the stand.

Trott and Bopara relied more on singles, while the odd boundary kept coming, to add 41 runs for the fourth wicket. Medium pacer Praveen Kumar broke the stand by rattling the stumps of Bopara but Trott and Patel launched an onslaught in the last 10 overs during which 91 runs were scored. Trott and Patel added 103 runs off 71 balls.

Trott’s 116-ball known was studded with eight fours while Patel’s came up with a 43-ball cameo, hitting two sixes and seven fours, that justified his promotion ahead of Jonny Bairstow.