England Fall to India One-Day Series Defeat

Suresh Raina's unbeaten 89 inspired India to a five-wicket victory over England and earned an unassailable 3-1 lead in the best of five-match series in Mohali.

The tourists compiled a sub-standard total of 257 for 7 with captain Alastair Cook and Kevin Pietersen both making 76 and Joe Root hitting 57 from 61 balls including eight 4s and one 6.

India were reduced to 90 for 3 in reply, before a 68-run partnership between Rohit Sharma (83) and Raina took the game away from England before cameos from MS Dhoni (19) and Ravindra Jadeja (21 not out) helped the hosts to victory.

"Overall a very good performance, more so with the new ball," captain Dhoni said. "We didn't let them get off to a quick start. It is new bowling attack, they will learn a lot with experience. 100 in 10 overs, it's bound to happen with the new rules.

"We all know Rohit is a gifted cricketer and it was a very good performance from him. He is a natural puller of the ball and once he got to his fifty, he converted it to a big one. The conditions have not been typical sub-continental conditions, except Kochi, so the series win has been a good achievement."

England saw the initiative snatches from them with 15 overs remaining as Steven Finn appeared to have picked up the wicket of Raina, but clipped the stumps with his knee in his delivery stride, thus rendering the ball dead and handing India's eventual match-winner a second life.

Cook admitted that the partnership between Raina and Sharma was the difference as Ashley Giles suffered his third successive defeat as England one-day coach as the series was surrendered.

"Rohit-Raina partnership really took things away from us," Cook said. "I don't think the conditions were really in our favour.

"We put up a pretty good score on this wicket. Joe Root played pleasingly, he moved the ball around well."

The two sides play the final match of the series in Dharamsala on Sunday, a match set to go ahead despite fears of snow for the fifth one-day international.