India saw off a Michael Vaughan-inspired recovery to beat England by 23 runs in the third one-day international at Lord’s in London on Sunday.
But England still took the three-match series 2-1, a warm-up for the ICC Champions Trophy that starts on Friday, after seven-wicket and 70-run wins at Trent Bridge and The Oval respectively.
England, chasing 205, collapsed to 62 for six in a match where they were missing star all-rounder Andrew Flintoff, who had gone to hospital to be with his pregnant girlfriend.
But a stand of 92 between England captain Vaughan, who put a run of low scores behind him with 74, and Ashley Giles revived England.
However, after both men fell in the space of five balls to off-spinner Harbhajan Singh, England were 155 for eight.
”The Turbanator” took three for 28 before left-arm quick Ashish Nehra (three for 26) finished the match with 10 balls to spare by bowling Darren Gough (10).
Vaughan, dropped on 36 by debutant wicketkeeper Dinesh Karthik, revived England after managing just 51 runs in his previous seven one-day innings.
”We were excellent in the field but then they hit us hard with the new ball,” said Vaughan.
”But we are proud to have beaten a very good India side. We have improved in leaps and bounds and we hope to take this form into the Champions Trophy.”
Ganguly said he hopes the win will act as a springboard for next week’s 12-nation tournament.
”The game is all about confidence and we hope to get better from here,” said the India skipper.
”It was a good surface to bat on. It was slow at first but picked up after that. We have always known we are a good side.”
Earlier, England fast-bowler Stephen Harmison took a career-best one-day return of four for 22 as India were bowled out for 204 after winning the toss.
India captain Sourav Ganguly, with 90, and Rahul Dravid, 52, were the only batsmen in the innings to score more than 14.
The tourists slumped to 48 for three before a fourth-wicket stand of 93 between the experienced duo revived the innings in front of a capacity, 28 500-strong crowd.
Meanwhile, veteran quick Gough (two for 41) became the first Englishman and 19th player overall to take 200 one-day international wickets.
But England’s top order then proved as fallible as India’s on a used pitch. Left-hander Marcus Trescothick (one) went first when an edged drive off Nehra was caught by Venkatsai Laxman at second slip.
Nehra then made it two wickets for 12 runs in 10 balls when Indian-born opener Vikram Solanki (nine) hooked him to Harbhajan at fine leg.
Fellow left-armer Irfan Pathan, swinging the ball late, followed up with two for two in nine as left-hander Andrew Strauss and Anthony McGrath, Flintoff’s replacement, were both plumb leg before wicket for two apiece.
And when Geraint Jones (11) chipped off-spinner Harbhajan to a diving Virender Sehwag at mid-on, England were six down inside 20 overs.
Vaughan, who unfurled some of his trademark cover-drives, reached a morale-boosting 50 in 100 balls with six fours.
And with 10 overs left, England needed 62 runs to win. But the match swung back India’s way in the 44th over, Harbhajan’s last.
First he had Giles caught and bowled for a one-day best 39 before Vaughan was superbly stumped five balls later by diving 19-year-old Karthik after the ball deflected off his thigh.
Earlier, Ganguly opened with Venkatsai Laxman, the out-of-form Sehwag dropping down to number four.
But India, still without master batsman Sachin Tendulkar whose elbow injury has ruled him out of the Champions Trophy, saw three wickets lost in the first 14 overs.
Ganguly kept going but 10 runs short of his first one-day international 100 in over a year, the left-hander swatted Harmison to Vaughan at mid-wicket.
Dravid, who completed a patient 85-ball 50 with three fours, departed shortly afterwards when he became Harmison’s fourth wicket, well-caught by Collingwood at backward point.
By then Gough had reached the 200-mark when Harbhajan was caught at backward point by Vaughan for nought. — Sapa-AFP