HAPPY DEEPAVALI

Dominant India whitewash England

(PODUNDA SAAMY )

Kolkata, (AFP): World champions India brushed aside England by 95 runs in the fifth and final one-day international in Kolkata on Tuesday to sweep the series 5-0.

Skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni smashed an unbeaten 75 off 69 balls to power India to 271-8 after the hosts were sent in to bat by England captain Alastair Cook at the Eden Gardens.

Left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja then grabbed 4-33 and off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin claimed 3-28 as England were shot out for 176 in 37 overs after a promising start in the day-night match.

The whitewash made partial amends for the disastrous tour of England in July-September, when India were routed 4-0 in the Test series to lose the world number one ranking and were blanked 3-0 in the one-dayers.

India swept the series despite the absence of seven players, including star batsman Sachin Tendulkar, who were part of the team that won the World Cup final against Sri Lanka in Mumbai in April.

India have beaten England in 16 of their last 18 one-day internationals at home, losing one and tying the other during the World Cup earlier this year.

India were reduced to 123-4 before Dhoni hit his way out of trouble, pounding four sixes and three boundaries, to help the hosts 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 seamer Samit Patel claimed three for 57, while fast bowler Steven Finn took 2-47.

Cook and Craig Kieswetter provided the best start for the tourists in the series as they put on 129 for the first wicket by the 21st over. Both hit half-centuries before India grabbed five wickets for 12 runs to reduce England to 141-5 in the 26th over.

Fast bowler Varun Aaron triggered the collapse by bowling Cook for 60, while Kieswetter was leg-before to Jadeja for 63. Ian Bell, making his first appearance in the series in place of the injured Kevin Pietersen, had made two when he was caught behind by Dhoni off Ashwin.

Jadeja then removed the two Jonathans, Trott and Bairstow, in eight balls to open up the lower order. Ravi Bopara was bowled by Suresh Raina round his wickets and Tim Bresnan holed out against part-time spinner Manoj Tiwary.

The rivals will return to the Eden Gardens on Saturday for a one-off Twenty20 international before England return home.