India throws match to England
MIL, Sep 4, 2004. Abdul Malik
Oval - Flintoff piled 99 runs while Gough outs smarted four Indian batsmen to clear the way for an impressive 70 run victory in the second one day international over India at Oval. The victory was remarkable as England won the match while batting first, after 25 matches in the last 10 months. Also it was after two years that England crossed 300 runs.
Though Flintoff failed to complete his century by one run, his partnership of 174 runs with Paul Collingwood rescued England from 105 at four wickets.
India started rather strangely. Virender Sehwag was lbw in the first over for a duck while Captain Sourav Gangly run out in a bizarre fashion for seven, when he crashed with VVS Laxman and lost hold of his bat half way down the pitch.
Mohammed Kaif scored highest, 51 runs. India’s last wicket partnership was quite impressive when Harbhajan Singh and Balaji together added 64 runs.
India was all out for 237.
While Harbhajan Singh bowled as was expected the rest failed to do any major good. Indian fielding too was poor and full of loopholes.
Flintoff was declared Man of the Match for his impressive inning that he played with four sixes. He said, “I enjoy it. The ball comes on to the bat.”
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