Indian Colts rout England

The win gave India four points from two games, the same as hosts Sri Lanka who beat Nepal by an identical margin. Both teams, who are now assured of a semifinal placing, clash for the super league two top spot at R. Premadasa stadium on Saturday.

England, sent in to bat, were consumed by tight bowling and fielding by India. A fourth-wicket partnership of 54 between Michael Carberry (36) and Gary Pratt, who top-scored with 56 (74b, 4×4), was the sole highlight of their batting.

Openers Ranneet Ricky and Manish Sharma laid a solid foundation for India’s reply when they shared a stand of 134 in 32 overs.

Batting with great circumspection, Ricky made a stylish 68 (102b, 9×4) before time Murtagh got one through his defences.

Sharma carried on to see India through with his captain Mohammed Kaif figuring in an unfinished second-wicket stand of 49.

Sharma scored an unbeaten 87 off 114 balls with seven fours andthree sixes, while kaif’s 24 not out came off 34 balls with three fours.

Scoreboard

England: J Maunders st Ratra b Kaif 32, M Wallace run out (Yuvraj) 2, I Bell c Ratra b Sodhi 11, M Carberry st Ratra b Dave 36, G Pratt c Sodhi b Srivastava 56, A Loudon st Ratra b Dave 2, T Phillips run out (Rao) 3, D Harrison b Tripathi 12, G Bridge run out (Ratra) 15, N Warren not out 0; Extras: (lb4, w9) 13. Total (for 9 wickets, 50 overs) 182
Fall of wickets: 1-6, 2-36, 3-74, 4-128, 5-136, 6-145, 7-167, 8-169, 9-182
Bowling: Srivastava 9-0-30-1, Tripathi 7-1-22-1, Dave 8-1-33-1, Sodhi 5-1-16-1, Kaif 10-0-38-1, Rao 9-0-26-0, Yuvraj Singh 2-0-13-0

India: R Ricky b Murtagh 68, M Sharma not out 87, M Kaif not out 24; Extras: (w3, nb1) 4. Total: (1 wicket, 42.3 overs): 183
Fall of wicket: 1-134
Bowling: Harrison 8-0-35-0, Murtagh 9-1-37-1, Warren 6.3-0-37-0, Bridge 7-1-25-0, Phillips 7-1-28-0, Maunders 2-0-9-0, Loudon 3-0-11-0.