KOLKATA — England crashed to a 5-0 series whitewash against India after a shocking collapse led to a 95-run defeat in the final match in Kolkata. Chasing 272, openers Craig Kieswetter (63) and Alastair Cook (60) made a flying start with a 129-run stand.
But the tourists lost five wickets for 12 runs and all 10 for 47 as they were skittled for 176 in only 37 overs, with spinner Ravindra Jadeja taking 4-33. Mahendra Dhoni’s aggressive 75 not out helped India to 271-8 in their innings.
Cook and Kieswetter breezed to their first 50 stand of the tour and brought up the century partnership after only 16,1 overs as they negotiated India’s early introduction of spin.
Their 129-run stand was the highest first-wicket partnership in a one-day international at Eden Gardens, but the match was soon turned on its head.
Cook was the first man out — bowled by a Varun Aaron delivery that kept low — and Kieswetter promptly followed, lbw to Jadeja’s arm ball.
Ian Bell, back in the side because of an injury to Kevin Pietersen, became the third victim in 17 balls, out for two after outside-edging Ravinchandran Ashwin’s carrom ball to Dhoni.
Three deliveries later, Jadeja tossed up a tempter that Jonathan Trott nicked to Virat Kohli at slip to depart for five.
The nightmare spell continued when Jonny Bairstow departed for two, playing against the turn of Jadeja and sending the ball looping to Ajinkya Rahane at backward point.
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Incredibly, things got even worse as the part-timer spinners took scalps. First, Suresh Raina bowled Ravi Bopara for four after he again miscued a sweep, leaving England in turmoil on 155-6.
Then came the soft dismissal of Tim Bresnan for a four-ball duck in the next over. Bresnan chipped to cover from the leg-spin of Kolkata local Manoj Tiwary, who was selected in place of Parthiv Patel.
