Score Update
England 340-4 (49.3 Overs)
A. Strauss 171*(175)
K. Pieterson 47*(49)
P. Collingwood 47(34)
V. Sehwag 1/48
L. Balaji 1/60
ENGLAND WIN BY 6 WICKETS
MAN OF THE MATCH: ANDREW STRAUSS
England had to score 340 in 50 overs at a run rate close to seven run per over. And things became worse early on in their innings when a direct hit from Mohammad Kaif had Robert Key walking back the pavilion having scored just 7. Michael Vaughan came in, and along with Andrew Strauss built a partnership of 70 runs before being caught by Ajit Agarkar off Laxmipathy Balaji. England at this stage were 92-2, with 32 overs in hand, and still over still needing nearly 250 runs more. The problem at this stage was not just keeping wickets in hand, but also ensuring that the required run rate did not go beyond reach. And this is exactly what Paul Collingwood and Andrew Strauss tried to achieve. And to a large extent they were successful in doing so. Collingwood played a cameo innings of 47 from 34 balls before being trapped plum in front of his middle stump by Virender Sehwag. Warwickshire's Ian Bell also tried to increase the run rate and in the process got him self run out after having scored 17 runs in 7 balls. England at this stage were 194-4 in 30 Overs. Then one of the most thrilling ends in One Day International history was witnessed at Edgbaston, as Strauss and Pieterson tried to get to reach the almost impossible target of 340. Andrew Strauss soon reached his hundred, and along with Pieterson started converting ones to twos, twos to threes, and get the odd boundary in order to keep up with the required run rate. In the last over England needed 9 runs to win. The good thing was that England still had six wickets in hand. Agarkar however made it much easier for England after over-stepping in the first ball, and Strauss picked up two runs, which along with the additional run for the no-ball, made it 6 runs required off 6 balls. Two singles followed off consecutive deliveries, and then Strauss pierced the offside field and scored a four, to take England home and complete the most successful run chase in One Day Internationals so far. Andrew Strauss was named Man of the Match for his fantastic innings. "This one I will never forget. There is nothing better than winning a match for your country", said Strauss. Michael Vaughan praised his batsman for this performance, and rated it as the best he had ever witnessed. "It was a fantastic match, and at the end we should that no target can be beyond reach", said Vaughan. "We got off to a bad start losing Key, but since then we paced our innings well, keeping wickets in hand, which allowed us to play shots towards the end of the innings."
Indian captain Saurav Ganguly applauded England's performance but was critical about his own team's fielding.
"We gave away 20-25 runs through misfields. We probably need to work a bit on our ground fielding", stated Ganguly.
England play World Champions and the recently concluded ICC Champions Trophy winners Australia next at Old Trafford.