Bell Makes Twelve in Fourth England Defeat

Last updated : 23 November 2008 By Covsupport News Service
England lost their fourth consecutive One Day international and the Heroes Honda series with a defeat to India in a One Day international today.

England skipper Kevin Pietersen put India into bat after winning the toss at Bangalore.

Sehway and Sashin Tandulkar opened the batting. The Indian hero made only eleven before Stuart Broad took this wicket but Sehwag batted onto make 69 with Gautam Gambir adding a quick fire forty.

More delays and rain reduced the match to 22 overs a side as India closed on 166-4.

England were set 198 runs to win under the Duckworth/Lewis method. Ravi Bopara was out for a single in the second over to make the chances of winning more harder.

Now needing eleven runs an over to win, Over seven was good for England with seventeen coming off it thank to a six and two fours from Owi Shah.

But in the next over, it was 44-2 when Coventrian Ian Bell was bowled by Harbhajan Singh for 12. Kevin Pietersen was next out for five.

At the halfway stage, England needed 122 runs from 66 balls. Owais Shah used this as a chance to shine and hit some stunning shots including two sixes.

Shah was partnered by Andrew Flintoff who played some good shots in a partnership of 79 before their first batting powerplay came with six overs remaining and England needing 67.

Shaw was eventually caught by Tendulkar for 72 after hitting a full toss from Zaheer. Flintoff followed him quickly after making 41.

Being restricted to singles, England needed boundaries for any chance of a win but Collingwood (22), Samit Patel who was out for eleven,Graeme Swann (5) and Matt Prior could not stop England losing eight wickets for 178.

This gave India a 19 run victory and a 4-0 series lead with three matches left.