England frustrated as India goes up 3-0

Source: Agencies  |   2008-11-21  |     NEWSPAPER EDITION

INDIA'S 16-run win over England yesterday left the tourists 0-3 down in the series and frustrated at the outcome of a game decided under the Duckworth-Lewis method for shortened matches.

England was bowled out for 240 and India had reached 198-5 off 40 overs, 16 runs ahead of the par score of 182 ?? under the Duckworth-Lewis calculation ?? when fading light ended play.

England captain Kevin Pietersen had a conversation with the umpires when play was called off and was seen leaving the ground shaking his head at the circumstances of the result.

The start of the match was delayed for 45 minutes by a local haze, yet the length of the match was only reduced by one over per side. The lunch break was also not reduced from the allocated 30 minutes, taking away what proved to be valuable time.

Virender Sehwag hit an aggressive 68 to kickstart India's innings, and his contribution proved vital as it allowed India to preserve wickets and remain ahead of the Duckworth-Lewis asking rate.

Captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni (29 not out) was fully aware of that asking rate and was able to guide India accordingly through the closing overs.

Continuing the form that got him centuries in the previous two one-dayers, Yuvraj Singh hit an important 38 and shared a 52-run partnership for the fifth wicket with Dhoni.

Dhoni and Yusuf Pathan (12 not out) accepted the umpires' offer of light, aware that India was ahead.

Pace bowler Andrew Flintoff was the pick of England's attack as he claimed 3-31 from his nine overs.

Earlier, England won the toss but squandered the benefits of a 79-run opening partnership between Ravi Bopara (60) and Ian Bell (46). The middle order fumbled against the accurate spinners who managed to generate some turn from the track.

Promoted from No. 7 to open the innings, Bopara played a composed knock while Bell struck eight boundaries off 47 balls before nicking a delivery from pace bowler Munaf Patel to wicketkeeper Dhoni.