England openers off to a steady start In 5th ODI Live

NEW DELHI: England openers Alastair Cook and Craig Kieswetter got off to a steady start chasing a target of 271 in the fifth and final ODI at the Eden Gardens.
 

Indian skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni smashed an unbeaten 75 off 69 balls to power India to 271/8 in Kolkata on Tuesday.

England, hoping to avoid a 5-0 series whitewash after losing the first four games, grabbed wickets at regular intervals after skipper Alastair Cook asked India to bat in the day-night match.

India were reduced to 123-4 before Dhoni hit his way out of trouble, pounding four sixes and three boundaries, to help the world champions put up a challenging total on a sluggish wicket.

The late flourish led by the captain saw India plunder 84 runs in the last eight overs, including 39 off the final 12 balls.

Left-arm spinner Samit Patel claimed three for 57, while Steven Finn took 2-47.

Indian openers Gautam Gambhir and Ajinkya Rahane put on 80 runs in 17 overs when England hit back with three wickets without a run being added.

Finn, England's most impressive fast bowler in the series, bowled Gambhir (38) and the in-form Virat Kohli with the first and last deliveries of his sixth over.

In the next over, Tim Bresnan forced Rahane (42) to edge a ball to wicket-keeper Craig Kieswetter, who dived to his right to pick up a superb catch.

Kolkata local Manoj Tiwary, making his first appearance in the series in place of opener Parthiv Patel, scored 24 with the help of four boundaries when he was caught behind off Stuart Meaker.

Suresh Raina helped Dhoni lift the total to 162/4 in the 37th over, before he was run out for 38 by a direct throw from Ravi Bopara.

Patel dismissed Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin in successive overs, but Dhoni stepped in to steer India to a competitive total.

England gave seasoned batsman Ian Bell his first game in the series in place of Kevin Pietersen, who has a fractured thumb.

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