February 4, 2002	Monday	Ziqa’ad 20, 1422

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MUMBAI, Feb 3: England kept their cool under pressure to pull off a thrilling five-run win over India in the final One-day International Sunday to cap a superb comeback and draw the six-match series 3-3.

England, led by Andrew Flintoff, triggered an India middle-order collapse to bowl them out for 250 off the penultimate ball to level the series, completing a fight back from 3-1 down with two consecutive victories.

Man-of-the-Match Marcus Trescothick hammered 95 from only 80 balls and figured in two crucial stands as England, despite suffering a middle-order slump themselves, reached 255 all out in 49.1 overs after skipper Nasser Hussain chose to bat.

India were once again found wanting in a tight chase, losing quick wickets after skipper Saurav Ganguly was dismissed for a well-paced 80 which lifted his side towards victory in the day-night game at the packed Wankhede stadium.

But England bowlers took over once left-arm spinner Ashley Giles removed Ganguly for the second consecutive game to reduce India to 191 for four in the 37th over.

India went into the final over needing 11 runs for victory, but Flintoff effected a run out and then bowled last man Javagal Srinath to seal victory.

The all-rounder, who earlier contributed a crucial 40 in a 37-run last wicket stand, took off his shirt in celebration before the tourists embarked on a victory lap around the stadium.

It was a superb end to the Indian tour for Nasser Hussain’s side, who only lost the three-test series 1-0 to confound pundits who predicted a clean sweep for the hosts.

Ganguly took charge in a 99-ball effort studded with four sixes after Sachin Tendulkar’s (12) cheap dismissal, but Giles had him playing a sweep onto his stumps to bring England back into the game.

Earlier, Trescothick made the most of a dropped catch off the first ball of the match from Srinath to lash nine fours and a six.

He shared in an 87-run second wicket partnership with Hussain, who hit 41 from only 38 deliveries, and then dominated a 65-run third wicket effort with Michael Vaughan (16).

But Ganguly broke both partnerships by removing the England skipper and Vaughan to set the stage for Harbhajan Singh.

The off-spinner captured a career-best 5-43, including his first four wickets in 11 deliveries to leave England struggling.

MESS CLEARED: Hussain praised his players for compensating for their batting mistakes with their collected fielding and bowling effort.

“They messed up, they knew that and they put it right,” a delighted Hussain said.

“We should have got 300,” Hussain said.

Hussain said England were never down and out despite India reaching 191 for three in the 37th over.

“We were never out of the game,” he said in obvious reference to his team pulling off a two-run victory in the previous game in New Delhi on Thursday after being in a similar situation.

“The fielding and bowling were excellent,” he said and added: “(Andrew) Flintoff showed a lot of composure.”

Hussain said his young side gained a lot from the one-dayers and the three-Test series, which ended in December with a 1-0 defeat for the tourists.

England were scheduled late on Sunday to fly to New Zealand for a Test series and Hussain said the Indian experience would stand his side well.

“If you can play like this in India, you can play like this anywhere else in the world,” he said. “This will give us lot of confidence.”

“We threw it away,” said a dejected Ganguly, who blamed his side’s inexperienced middle-order batsman for succumbing to pressure during the close chase.

“It was a good track to bat on. But it is an inexperienced side,” he said.