Yuvraj 2, England 0

Mahendra Singh Dhoni8217;s fetish for motorcycles is well documented. But with Yuvraj Singh riding the form of his life, the Indian skipper will need a miracle to lay his hands on one of the bikes the Man of the Match takes home in the ongoing seven-match series.

Mahendra Singh Dhoni8217;s fetish for motorcycles is well documented. But with Yuvraj Singh riding the form of his life, the Indian skipper will need a miracle to lay his hands on one of the bikes the Man of the Match takes home in the ongoing seven-match series.

And while two-wheelers might not quite be on top of England8217;s priority list right now, it seems they also need something miraculous to bounce back in the series, especially after Yuvraj single-handedly inflicted another crushing 54-run defeat on them in the second ODI on Monday.

Coming in to bat with India struggling on 29 for three, the dashing Punjab left-hander first scored a chanceless 118 8212; less domineering than his whirlwind 138 in the previous game, but more valuable because it came in trying circumstances 8212; and then rolled his arm over to take four vital wickets as England were bowled out for 238 while chasing 293 for victory.

Power play

At one stage, when Andrew Flintoff and Pietersen were clobbering the Indian bowlers during the third power-play, England looked like they might just go the distance. But Yuvraj dismissed them both in one over to put the match beyond the visitors8217; reach.

Interestingly, Yuvraj was a doubtful starter for Monday8217;s match. By skipping practice on Sunday, he had fuelled speculation over his participation, so much so that Paul Collingwood had said his absence would be good news for his team.

Much to the Englishmen8217;s disappointment, India played the same side as at Rajkot, but doubts still persisted if the left-hander was fully fit. He did look somewhat edgy when he walked in after Stuart Broad8217;s early three-wicket burst, but announced his intentions by glancing an Andrew Flintoff no-ball for four and making the most of the subsequent free-hit to hoist the bowler over the mid-wicket fence for six.

Gambhir8217;s form

A flicked boundary brought up his half-century as he added 134 runs for the fourth-wicket with Gautam Gambhir. The opener, in great form all season, departed after making 70, his second successive half-century, but Yuvraj kept finding the gaps from the other end with ease. A push towards point for a cheeky single brought up the 10th ton of his career.

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India took their third power-play rather late 8212; in the 43rd over 8212; but lost Yuvraj as he nicked Broad to the wicketkeeper in a bid to accelerate. Yusuf Pathan then hit a 29-ball 50, studded with four sixes, to help the hosts finish close to 300, a target that would always be difficult on a dicey pitch.

To be sure, England did put on a vastly improved show from Rajkot. There were occasions when they were in the driver8217;s seat, but let up whenever they held India by the scruff of their neck. Their biggest tactical blunder was not playing an extra spinner in this match, as skipper Pietersen, who himself bowled five overs, got healthy turn and even a wicket, later admitted.