India rains on England's parade

Indian youngster Suresh Raina has smashed out a career best 81 not out to help his side to a four-wicket win over England.

The result sees India take a 2-0 lead in the seven match one day international series.

Chasing 227 for victory, the hosts lost five wickets for 31 runs before Raina was joined by Mahendra Dhoni, who hit a patient 38 in a partnership of 108.

Earlier, English stroke-maker Kevin Pietersen (71) passed 1,000 career runs in just his 21st innings, to tie with Viv Richards' longstanding record.

Andrew Strauss hit 61, before the visitors crumbled to lose six wickets in the final 10 overs.

On a slow wicket in Faridabad, the home side got their reply off to a blazing start, and looked set to coast past an England total that appeared well below expectation.

Virender Sehwag (26) and Gautam Gambhir (29) punished some poor bowling from opening duo Kabir Ali and James Anderson to take 50 off the first 10 overs.

However, spinner Ian Blackwell saw Sehwag play onto his stumps, sparking the collapse, and 60 runs were still required from the final 10 overs.

Raina, 19, and wicket-keeper Dhoni, 24, refused to be flustered, and dug deep to produce the goods for the home side with one over to spare.

MAJOR PARTNER

ANZ

BROADCAST PARTNERS

TVNZ SENZ

COMMERCIAL PARTNERS

Asahi CCC Dream11 Dulux Ford Gillette GJ Gardner KFC Life Direct Pals Powerade Spark Spark