India Vs England 4th ODI, India wins thriller, clinches series

India clinched the seven-match ODI series against England, beating the visitors comprehensively in the rain-truncated fourth one-dayer here late on Sunday.

The hosts, who were already up 3-0 in the series, won by 19 runs after setting England a steep victory target of 198 runs from 22 overs via the Duckworth-Lewis method.

Put into bat in what was their 700th ODI, the hosts scored 166 for four from their 22 overs.

The India pace battery — Zaheer Khan, Ishant Sharma and Munaf Patel — picked up wickets at regular interval to keep a check on England, who were in with a chance till the end courtesy a brilliant 72 from Owais Shah. Andrew Flintoff also played a useful knock of 41 but it was not enough.

Shah hit three sixes and nine boundaries in his 48-ball knock.

Zaheer was at his miserly best, giving away only 20 runs off his five overs. He took the wickets of Shah and Samit Patel.

Towards the end of the England innings, it appeared that Zaheer had become the de facto captain during Ishant’s overs. It seemed as if captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni was happy to let Zaheer set the fields.

Heavy showers interrupted play twice leading to the loss of more than five hours playing time, but the ground staff worked hard to salvage a game.

Earlier, opener Virender Sehwag scored a scintillating 69 off only 57 deliveries and Gautam Gambhir, who walked in at No. 3 in this match, contributed with a useful 40.

Sehwag and Gambhir stitched together a 79-run second-wicket partnership. Sehwag took control after Tendulkar’s return, playing some breathtaking drives and pulls as he lashed nine fours and three sixes in his 57-ball knock.

Sehwag and Gambhir both fell to off-spinner Graeme Swann caught by James Anderson in the deep looking for quick runs. It was almost raining sixes for India during the last five overs they faced.