ATTACK MODE: M.S. Dhoni treated the England bowlers with disdain, but his entertaining knock went in vain. — Photo: V. Ganesan

JAMSHEDPUR: Ian Blackwell hit a soaring six to finish the match in style, as England enjoyed its best moment in the one-day series at the Keenan Stadium here on Wednesday.

The visitors conquered the heat as well as the opposition in a five-wicket victory that came in the absence of captain Andrew Flintoff.

Stand-in skipper Andrew Strauss produced a match-winning knock — flawless and inspiring — to pull off a victory that showed the English team in better light after its long struggle in the last fortnight.

A near-capacity crowd watched the Indians surrender a good toss and even the efforts of Mahendra Singh Dhoni failed to inspire the team on a day when the players' endurance was tested more than their skills.

The hostile conditions did not deter the fans and they were at their best behaviour despite the Indians losing their way after Virender Sehwag was consumed early. However, their day was made, thanks to the attacking innings from Dhoni.

No positive result

India's experiments did not yield any positive results this time, but full credit to England for displaying a high degree of application.

It showed a greater desire to win and did not concede any ground to India unlike the first two matches of the series.

Motivating themselves was always going to be a challenge for the Indians. The series had lost its competitive flavour and the emphasis on trying out a new combination meant that not much was going to be made from the loss. And it is true to a large extent.

Dhoni, a key figure in the Indian camp, was at his best when promoted in the batting order. "I can adapt and play according to any situation. I will do anything in the interest of the team," he had remarked recently. Dhoni did not fail in his duty, playing his part to perfection.

With Sehwag's poor run continuing, it was Dhoni who took control of the proceedings, playing some silken drives and some robust ones to send the crowd into raptures. In this part of the country, the fans love Dhoni more than any other cricketer and he showed why.

The complacency in the Indian ranks was evident. Mohammad Kaif, who has come in for sharp criticism from former India captain Sunil Gavaskar for his poor performances, uncharacteristically tried to hit his way out of trouble but came to grief when he played across to a ball on the middle-stump.

Yuvraj Singh dragged an innocuous ball on to his stumps and Suresh Raina's faint nick was taken down the leg side. It was just the stage for Venugopala Rao to showcase his talent but he failed to read the late swing. At 79 for five, India was in deep trouble.

Sensible approach

Dhoni and Ramesh Powar batted sensibly to garner 107 runs for the sixth wicket and restored some competitive edge to the contest. Dhoni launched a calculated assault on the England bowlers, defending well and picking the right deliveries to hit.

His trademark flicks from outside the off-stump left the bowlers dazed and 10 fours and three sixes adorned his 106-ball knock. He fell four runs short of a century, a tame flick landing in midwicket's hands.

Powar, who made his maiden ODI half-century, hit four fours and one six in his 83-ball effort. The stocky Mumbaikar once again proved that he was a useful cricketer who can be persisted with.

Good spells

James Anderson and Ian Blackwell were the pick of the English bowlers, the former taking three wickets and the latter conceding just 33 runs off his 10 overs, and set up a comfortable chase for their batsmen on a track that encouraged strokeplay.

Strauss and Ian Bell gave England a flying start. The trio of R.P. Singh, Munaf Patel and debutant V.R.V. Singh, who looked short of match practice, proved easy pickings. They bowled a poor line to suffer at the hands of the England openers.

Bell (46, 64b, 6x4) was baffled by Harbhajan's floater and Strauss, adjudged `man of the match,' was forced to retire due to cramps with England 65 runs short of the target.

Kevin Pietersen's cameo thrilled the audience which also witnessed a mini collapse, before Paul Collingwood and Blackwell stepped in to seal the issue. India's jinx at Keenan continues — it has won just one of the nine matches here.

UNI adds:

Keenan Stadium may not be a lucky venue for India, but Harbhajan Singh will remember it for reaching a personal milestone. He completed 150 wickets from 122 ODIs on Wednesday.

Having made his debut against New Zealand in 1998 in Sharjah, the Punjab off-spinner has been an important cog in the Indian success story.

SCOREBOARD

India: V. Sehwag c Solanki b Anderson 4, M.S. Dhoni c Solanki b Mahmood 96, Mohd. Kaif lbw b Mahmood 15, Yuvraj b Plunkett 4, S. Raina c Prior b Plunkett 2, Venugopala Rao c Prior b Anderson 10, R. Powar c Hoggard b Collingwood 54, Harbhajan b Pietersen 4, R.P. Singh c Blackwell b Mahmood 7, V.R.V. Singh c Blackwell b Anderson 8, M. Patel (not out) 1; Extras (lb-4, w-14): 18; Total (in 48 overs) 223.

Fall of wickets: 1-4, 2-46, 3-58, 4-63, 5-79, 6-186, 7-196, 8-209, 9-216.

England bowling: Anderson 9-2-28-3, Hoggard 8-0-59-0, Mahmood 8-0-37-3, Plunkett 5-0-22-2, Blackwell 10-0-33-0, Solanki 4-0-25-0, Pietersen 1-0-4-1, Collingwood 3-0-11-1.

England: A. Strauss (retd hurt) 74, I. Bell c Dhoni b Harbhajan 46, V. Solanki b Powar 7, K. Pietersen c & b Harbhajan 33, P. Collingwood (not out) 23, M. Prior c V.R.V. Singh b Harbhajan 3, L. Plunkett c Sehwag b Powar 0, I. Blackwell (not out) 14; Extras (lb-11, nb-9, w-7): 27, Total (for five wkts. in 42.3 overs) 227.

Fall of wickets: 1-107, 2-120, 3-198, 4-207, 5-209.

India bowling: R.P. Singh 8-1-48-0, Patel 7-0-36-0, V.R.V. Singh 5-0-33-0, Harbhajan 10-0-30-3, Powar 8.3-0-44-2, Yuvraj 4-0-25-0.

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