Yorkshire pair unable to see England home after trio of centuries in Cuttack

Yorkshire's Liam Plunkett and David Willey failed to produce a grandstand finish as England fell to a 15-run defeat in the second one-day international in Cuttack.
Indian cricketer Jasprit Bumrah, left, celebrates with teammate Hardik Pandya, center, and captain Virat Kohli the dismissal of England's Alex Hales (AP Photo/Aijaz Rahi)Indian cricketer Jasprit Bumrah, left, celebrates with teammate Hardik Pandya, center, and captain Virat Kohli the dismissal of England's Alex Hales (AP Photo/Aijaz Rahi)
Indian cricketer Jasprit Bumrah, left, celebrates with teammate Hardik Pandya, center, and captain Virat Kohli the dismissal of England's Alex Hales (AP Photo/Aijaz Rahi)

England needed 22 to win off the final over with the all-rounders at the crease but they only scored six off it as India wrapped up the series win.

Eoin Morgan's bullish 102 in 81 balls had earlier stabilised the England effort afterYuvraj Singh (150) and Mahendra Singh Dhoni (134) rolled back the years with magnificent tons of their own.

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It was another bruising day for the bowlers, India's old favourites rescuing them from 25 for three to 381 for six and the tourists making their highest ever second innings score of 366 for eight.

"We weren't at our best again today with the ball or the bat but we still competed," said Morgan.

"We're tremendously disappointed to get so close and not get over the line.

"But India outplayed us again today."

A 256-run stand between Yuvraj and Dhoni effectively settled things in the home side's favour and came with added significance for the 35-year-old duo - Yuvraj reaching three figures for the first time since the triumphant 2011 World Cup campaign and Dhoni showing he would not be entirely ceding the spotlight to Virat Kohli just yet.

Eoin Morgan scored a defiant century but it was not enough (AP Photo/Aijaz Rahi)Eoin Morgan scored a defiant century but it was not enough (AP Photo/Aijaz Rahi)
Eoin Morgan scored a defiant century but it was not enough (AP Photo/Aijaz Rahi)
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For England the margins are clear: for the second time in four days they have failed to capitalise on early wickets, this time by the impressive Chris Woakes, and they trail the century count 4-1.

Jason Roy, Joe Root and Moeen Ali all backed up Morgan with half-centuries but with parameters shifting at this pace, even more is required on docile surfaces.

Furthermore the selection gamble of dropping Adil Rashid did not come off, with his replacement Liam Plunkett shipping 91 runs.

By the time the end came it was almost impossible to recall the probing discipline of Woakes' first five-over spell, during which he took out KL Rahul, Shikhar Dhawan and England's bogeyman Kohli while conceding a meagre 13 runs.

Joe Root goes for a big shot (Photo: AP)Joe Root goes for a big shot (Photo: AP)
Joe Root goes for a big shot (Photo: AP)
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Kohli has feasted on English bowlers all winter but lasted only five balls as he nibbled at a full outswinger and was brilliantly caught at second slip by Ben Stokes.

England had already been rewarded for posting a second catcher in the cordon, Stokes stooping to take Rahul, but their plans came to nothing against the calm control of Yuvraj and Dhoni.

Yuvraj was dominant with 35 of their first 50 runs and 73 of their first 100. Dhoni saved his bullying best for later, eventually smashing six sixes, but for now was happy to watch his partner's powerful pulls and fulsome drives.

Yuvraj's most pleasing strokes disappeared for six and four over extra-cover but it took a jogged single to end his long wait between his 13th and 14th ODI tons.

Eoin Morgan scored a defiant century but it was not enough (AP Photo/Aijaz Rahi)Eoin Morgan scored a defiant century but it was not enough (AP Photo/Aijaz Rahi)
Eoin Morgan scored a defiant century but it was not enough (AP Photo/Aijaz Rahi)
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He next had his sights on the 139 he scored in Sydney 13 years ago and duly passed that by dispatching Stokes straight down the ground.

Dhoni's innings started more slowly and had its dicey moments - Jake Ball ushering a difficult chance over the boundary on 43, an edge past the keeper on 49 - but as England became more ragged he found his full arsenal.

Immediately after thumping a Woakes full toss into the overhead Spidercam, leading to a dead ball signal, he launched one over the advertising boards at long-off. He hit top gear with three sixes in five Plunkett deliveries only to fall in pursuit of another.

Alex Hales was an early casualty of the daunting target but Roy and Root gave the England innings legs with a busy partnership worth exactly 100 at better than a run a ball.

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Root (54) was first to go, stretching too far on the sweep to give Ravichandran Ashwin success with his fifth delivery. Roy motored on to 82 and seemed primed for more when he stepped to leg and lost his off stump to Ashwin.

Morgan was at the crease by then but the cheap dismissals of Ben Stokes and Jos Buttler by Ashwin put him in charge of a sinking ship.

Joe Root goes for a big shot (Photo: AP)Joe Root goes for a big shot (Photo: AP)
Joe Root goes for a big shot (Photo: AP)

He joined Moeen (55) to wipe 93 from the deficit but when the latter's luck ran out courtesy of an inside edge off Bhuvneshwar Kumar, it was a one-man mission.

Morgan put his recent bad form behind him to keep things just about credible - 113 off the last 10 overs boiled down to 33 off the last two - but it was not to be.

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After striking five sixes and eight fours his departure came with a whimper at the non-striker's end, run out backing up.

The cause, and the series, was lost but not without a considerable fight and more brilliant entertainment from two fearless sides.

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