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England beat India by 64 runs
LONDON: England beat India by 64 runs in the eighth match of the One-day International triangular series here at The Oval on Tuesday. Both sides have already qualified for Saturday's final at Lord's.
July 09, 2002 - 1615 GMT
Irani, Flintoff lead England charge
LONDON: All-rounders Andrew Flintoff and Ronnie Irani both scored half centuries in a 76-run third wicket partnership as England made a challenging 229 for eight in the rain affected one-day international against India on Tuesday.
With the match reduced to 32 overs each side after persistent rain on Monday night and Tuesday morning, Irani (53) and Flintoff (51) were both promoted up the order to give the England innings impetus.
While initially content to push the ball behind square or blast the ball down the ground, Flintoff's six over mid-wicket off the final ball of the 17th over proved the catalyst for their onslaught.
The pair added 50 runs off the next six overs with Flintoff bringing up his half century, off just 35 balls, when he smashed the ball behind square leg for his sixth boundary.
However, he was out shortly after when he lofted a ball from Ajit Agarkar into the legside where Ahish Nehra made a comfortable running catch. Irani and Michael Vaughan then continued the treatment, hitting 48 runs off 29 balls.
Vaughan continued his push for inclusion in England's World Cup squad with a cavalier 30 runs off 17 balls before he was caught by Yuvraj Singh off Zaheer Khan.
Irani brought up his first international one-day half-century off just 53 balls when he smashed a ball through the leg side in the 29th over. His second boundary also brought up the England 200.
However he was bowled two balls later by Anil Kumble.
England then suffered a collapse when Paul Collingwood was bowled for nine by Nehra slogging across the line before Zaheer grabbed captain Nasser Hussain (six) and Alec Stewart (nought) off the first two balls of the final over.
Darren Gough saw off the hat-trick ball as he and Alex Tudor scrambled out another 10 runs, with Gough hitting a six off the final ball to see their side through to their challenging score.
Earlier India's opening bowlers Zaheer and Nehra had trouble finding their line with eight of the first 10 runs coming off wides. When they did settle down, England opener Nick Knight then attacked by advancing down the pitch to unsettle their length, and proceeded to smash four boundaries in his first 20 runs.
Marcus Trescothick finally looked to have broken the shackles when he drove a Zaheer half-volley for his first boundary to bring up the England 50 off 48 balls, but he was out off the first ball of the next over when he was clean bowled by Kumble's first delivery for nine.
Knight, who scored his 3,000th one day international run when he passed 30, was out for 31 when he mistimed a sweep off Yuvraj and as the ball ballooned behind square, Mohammad Kaif ran at least 20 metres then dived full length to pull off a stunning catch.
Both sides have already made the final of the triangular series at Lords on Saturday at the expense of Sri Lanka.
July 09, 2002 -
India elect to field against England
LONDON: India won the toss and elected to field in their triangular series one-day international against England here at The Oval on Tuesday.
India called up wicket-keeper Ajay Ratra for his first game of the series after regular one-day gloveman Rahul Dravid injured his left hamstring.
Venkatsai Laxman was also given his series debut with Dinesh Mongia dropped from the India top order following a run of low scores.
Meanwhile England recalled pace bowler Matthew Hoggard in place of off-spinner Jeremy Snape.
Rain prevented play commencing at the scheduled start time of 0945GMT and the bad weather has seen the match reduced from 50 overs per side to 32.
This fixture is now set to get underway four hours late at 1345GMT. The game itself is a dress rehearsal for Saturday's final at Lord's, Sri Lanka's defeat by India last weekend ending their hopes of making it through to the
tournament's climax.
India have yet to lose a match in the series. Sourav Ganguly's men have won three of their four games so far with the other, against England, at the Riverside on July 4 a no-result due to rain.
However, India beat England by six wickets at Lord's in their series opener on June 29.
England suffered their second defeat of the competition Sunday, Sri Lanka winning by 23 runs at Old Trafford - the Lankans first win of the series.
England: Marcus Trescothick, Nick Knight, Nasser Hussain (captain), Michael Vaughan, Alec Stewart (wicketkeeper), Andrew Flintoff, Ronnie Irani, Paul Collingwood, Alex Tudor, Darren Gough, Matthew Hoggard.
India: Sourav Ganguly (captain), Virender Sehwag, Venkatsai Laxman, Sachin Tendulkar, Ajay Ratra (wicketkeeper), Yuvraj Singh, Mohammad Kaif, Ajit Agarkar, Anil Kumble, Zaheer Khan, Ashish
Nehra.
Umpires: Steve Bucknor (West Indies) and Peter Willey
(England)
TV Umpire: Neil Mallender (England)
Match Referee: Mike Proctor (South Africa).
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