Ajit Agarkar bowled India back into contention with a four-wicket burst
but the visitors could not deliver the knock-out punch and let England
escape with a three-wicket win in the fourth cricket ODI here.
Chasing 213 for win, England fumbled and faltered before Stuart Broad
(45) and Ravi Bopara (43) stitched together a record unbeaten
99-run stand for the eighth wicket to see the side through. Captain Paul
Collingwood (47) topscored for the hosts.
This was after the famed Indian batting line-up had collapsed
for 212 in 49.4 overs with Yuvraj Singh (71, 104b, 5x4, 1x6) and Sachin Tendulkar
(55, 86b, 9x4) providing the resistance. Down the order, Zaheer
Khan's 19-ball cameo of 20 helped India cross the 200-mark.
For England, the new ball pair of Broad (4-51) and James Anderson
(3-38) shared seven wickets among them. Broad was later adjudged Man of the
Match for his all-round show.
With this victory, the hosts have extended their lead to 3-1
in the seven-match series, which means India can't afford to lose the remaining
games if they are to win the series. Both the teams now move to Leeds for the
fifth one dayer on Sunday.
The target of 213 was modest but England found itself in a
complete mess with top half of the batting line-up back in the pavilion inside
17 overs and the team yet to reach the 100-mark.
Captain Paul Collingwood (47, 55b, 7x4), however, seemed unfazed
by the series of setbacks as he maintained his sangfroid.
|