India v England, 2005-06
India v England, 2005-06
Lawrence Booth
15-Apr-2007
At Margao, April 3, 2006. India won by 49 runs. Toss: India. One-day international debut: M. M.
Patel.
In a stadium more used to football than cricket, some ferocious hitting from Yuvraj Singh
overcame a pitch as consistent as a muddy goalmouth. His seventh one-day international century
came up from only 73 balls, with ten fours and three sixes, as England's discipline deserted them
in front of another partisan crowd. Mahmood went for 66 in eight overs on his second international
appearance, nearly two years after his first, and 14 wides brought England's total in three games
to 45, compared with only six by India. But these were mere details; a stand of 142 in 20 overs
between Yuvraj and Raina painted a more graphic picture of India's superiority. Deprived of
Pietersen, who had a stomach bug, England were up against it from the start. Pathan winkled out
three quick wickets with subtle variations of pace and they slumped to 83 for five when Flintoff
slog-swept to deep midwicket. Collingwood sparkled, scoring 93 in 84 balls and adding 105 with
Jones, but it was too little, too late.
Man of the Match: Yuvraj Singh.