04 September 2004	Saturday	18 Rajab 1425

LONDON, Sept 3: Andrew Flintoff's 99 inspired England to a 70-run victory in the second one-day international against India at The Oval here Friday and an unbeatable 2-0 lead in the three-match series.

Flintoff's innings was the centrepiece of an imposing total 307 for five as England won a one-day international setting a target for the first time since they defeated Pakistan at the 2003 World Cup in Cape Town.

India, in reply, were bowled out for 237. Flintoff ended the match by bowling Lakshmipathy Balaji for 18 after a last wicket stand of 64 with Harbhajan Singh (41 not out).

Flintoff, who came in when England were struggling at 98 for three, put on 174 with Paul Collingwood, 79 not out, after off-spinner Harbhajan, with two for 14 from 10 overs, threatened to strangle the innings.

Their stand was a fifth wicket record for England in a one-day international, surpassing the 142 shared by Robin Smith and Graham Thorpe against Australia at Edgbaston in 1993.

When India, who'd won the toss, batted fast bowler Darren Gough took four for 50 to be left on 199 one-day international wickets. Left-arm spinner Ashley Giles did damage early on with three for 26.

Flintoff's display was another masterful exhibition of power stroke play. But one short of what would have been his third one-day hundred he top-edged a pull off Ajit Agarkar and was caught by wicket-keeper Rahul Dravid.

Flintoff faced just 93 balls with four sixes and nine fours while fellow all-rounder Collingwood's 85 ball-knock yielded 11 fours in total after he was dropped on 12. Four India bowlers went for more than 50 runs apiece with Balaji (eight overs for 77) the most expensive, with 28 wides bowled in total.

India then collapsed to 10 for two inside four overs, with Virender Sehwag was lbw for nought to Gough off the third ball of the innings. And then came a comical run-out. India captain Sourav Ganguly played a Stephen Harmison delivery onto the offside and set off for a single. But he collided mid-pitch with Venkatsai Laxman, dropped his bat, and was run out by Flintoff's direct hit for seven. Laxman did his best to atone with a series of sumptuous strokes. But after a run-a-ball stand of 89 with Mohammad Kaif, he fell for 33 when he chipped Giles to a diving Collingwood at short extra-cover.

Glamorgan quick Alex Wharf, who took three for 30 on debut during England's seven-wicket series opening win at Trent Bridge on Wednesday, saw his first over cost 13 runs. But Wharf turned 99 for three into 102 for four when Dravid, flailing wildly outside off-stump, was caught behind by wicket-keeper Geraint Jones for one.

His exit saw Yuvraj Singh partnering Kaif. Back in 2002 the pair put on 121 as India, chasing 326 for victory, recovered from 146 for five to beat England by two wickets in the NatWest Series Final at Lord's.

Kaif, who on 37 escaped being given out caught behind off Giles after making contact with the ball after it passed the line of sight of umpire Mark Benson, pressed on to a second successive fifty, off 68 balls, with eight fours.

But on 51 his top-edged sweep off Giles lobbed gently to Vaughan at short fine-leg before Gough chipped in with three late wickets. That left the fast bowler on 199 one-day international wickets.

England had earlier subsided to 98 for three. But when Harbhajan, nicknamed the 'Turbanator', completed his spell, with England 135 for four off 30 overs, the balance of power shifted as Flintoff let fly.

SCOREBOARD

ENGLAND:

M. Trescothick c Balaji b Harbhajan 27

V. Solanki c Dravid b Sehwag 48

M. Vaughan c Dravid b Harbhajan 4

A. Strauss c Ganguly b Sehwag 2

A. Flintoff c Dravid b Agarkar 99

P. Collingwood not out 79

G. Jones not out 12

Extras (b1, lb5, w28, nb2) 36

Total (five wkts, 50 overs) 307

Fall of wkts: 1-71, 2-93, 3-98, 4-105, 5-279

Did not bat: A Giles, A Wharf, D Gough, S Harmison

Bowling: Pathan 10-1-58-0 (4w); Balaji 8-0-77-0 (1nb, 6w); Agarkar 6-0-60-0 (1nb, 2w); Harbhajan 10-2-14-2 ; Sehwag 10-0-51-2 (2w); Gavaskar 3-0-18-0 (1w); Yuvraj 3-0-23-0;

INDIA

S.Ganguly run out 7

V.Sehwag lbw b Gough 0

V.Laxman c Collingwood b Giles 33

M.Kaif c Vaughan b Giles 51

R.Dravid c G.Jones b Wharf 1

Y.Singh c Vaughan b Gough 24

R.Gavaskar b Giles 13

A.Agarkar c Trescothick b Gough 22

I.Pathan c Vaughan b Gough 0

Harbajan Singh not out 41

L.Balaji b Flintoff 18

Extras (lb-11 nb-5 w-11) 27

Total (all out, 46.3 overs) 237

Fall of wkts: 1-2 2-10 3-99 4-102 5-113 6-143 7-169 8-169 9-173

Bowling: Gough 10-0-50-4, Harmison 8-0-51-0, Flintoff 7.3-1-31-1, Wharf 6-0-36-1, Giles 10-1-26-3, Vaughan 5-0-32-0

Result: England won by 70 runs.

First match: Trent Bridge - England won by seven wickets.

Third match: Sept 5, Lord's, London.

Umpires: Darrell Hair (AUS), Mark Benson (ENG)

TV umpire: Nigel Llong (ENG)

Match referee: Mike Procter (RSA). -Agencies