England's regular skipper Michael Vaughan returned to England due to injury, so did vice-captain Marcus Trescothick. Resting was stand-in skipper Andrew Flintoff, so stand-in skipper for a stand-in skipper Andrew Strauss had to captain England for the first time.

Andrew Strauss played a captain's knock of 74 before he retired to the pavillion due to cramps. Strauss and Ian Bell laid the foundation for the 224-run chase with an opening partnership of 107.

Earlier, India's stand-in skipper Virender Sehwag won the toss and elected to bat first. Sehwag departed early in the first over after striking a four in the first ball. All the others crumbled below him, missing the presence of Rahul Dravid. India were reduced to 79 for 5 before off-spinner Ramesh Powar and opening batsman Mahendra Singh Dhoni took control.

They laid a 107-run partnership to steady things before Mahendra Singh Dhoni fell 4 runs short of his third ODI hundred. Powar scored 54 as India was bundled out for 223.

The inexperienced pace bowlers were smashed around the ground. The spinners bagged some wickets but it was too late.

In the end, Blackwell smashed a huge six of a no-ball to help England complete a 5 wicket victory.

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Karthik Venkatesan