England watch India run away with second ODI

Indian batsman Virat Kohli celebrates his team’s victory and his century against England [AFP]

Delhi-born Virat Kohli and Gautam Gambhir guided India to a comprehensive eight-wicket victory over England in the second one-day international on Monday.

India fast bowler R. Vinay Kumar recorded career-best one-day figures to skittle the visitors for 237 before the
22-year-old Kohli’s unbeaten 112, including 16 boundaries, guided the hosts to their target with more than 13 overs to
spare.

Left-hander Gambhir made 84 and the pair added 209 runs for the third wicket after India had lost two early wickets to fast bowler Tim Bresnan.

England, who now trail the five-match series 2-0, got off to a disastrous start after opting to bat, losing openers Alastair Cook and Craig Kieswetter without a single run on the board.

Vinay Kumar picked up two wickets in his first spell and added two more when he returned to complete figures of four for 30 from nine overs.

Kevin Pietersen (46) top-scored for the visitors but it was the 86-run sixth-wicket partnership between Jonny Bairstow (35) and Samit Patel (42) that took England to a respectable total.

The third match of the series is in Mohali on Thursday.

In Twenty20 action, New Zealand beat Zimbabwe by 34 runs in the second international on Monday to seal the two-match series 2-0.

Openers Martin Guptill (67) and Brendon McCullum (64) both struck half-centuries as New Zealand reached 187-3 in a game reduced to 18 overs per side after rain stopped play three overs in.

Chasing a daunting total, Zimbabwe started positively, led by top-scorer Chamu Chibhabha (65), who faced 39 balls and cracked four fours and fixes sixes from opener.

The New Zealand bowlers struck at regular intervals, however, to guide their team home comfortably as Zimbabwe struggled for partnerships.

Seamer Doug Bracewell and spinner Nathan McCullum took three wickets each.