BANGALORE, Dec 22: England coach Duncan Fletcher conceded his team’s chances of winning the rain-hit third and final Test against India were slim despite holding the upper hand.

“It is going to be very difficult,” Fletcher told reporters Saturday after the weather frustrated the tourists on the fourth day of the game they need to win to square the series.

“Only 105 overs (remaining), and we’ll just have to see when we get in (Sunday morning) if we start on time. We’ll make a decision then.”

Just 15.4 overs were possible at the Chinnaswamy Stadium Saturday.

India were bowled out for 238 in their first innings and England, 98 ahead on first innings, then extended their lead to 131 by reaching 33 without loss in their second when rain forced play to be abandoned.

“It was frustrating,” Fletcher said of Saturday’s interruptions.

England reduced the hosts to 218 for seven Friday when rain washed out play after

tea.

The fourth day’s play did not start until late in the afternoon because of rain.

With India 1-0 up in the series and unlikely to take any risks, England have a difficult task to force a win on Sunday’s final day — when rain could again become a factor.

Asked to comment on whether his team was guilty of negative bowling as India replied to England’s first innings total of 336, Fletcher replied bluntly: “We were (about) 100 runs ahead and we are now 30 runs ahead in the second innings.

“Anything wrong with that?”

The second day’s play was marred by a row between Sachin Tendulkar and England captain Nasser Hussain after the batsman was frustrated by left-arm spinner Ashley Giles’s consistent attack around his legs.

Tendulkar appeared to say something to the bowler and then exchanged words with Hussain, who walked up to him.

Denis Lindsay, the International Cricket Council (ICC) match referee, later warned both teams to play the game in the right spirit after the flash point.—Reuters