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          England rains, India reigns

          • Nitin SundarJun 23, 2013, 10:31 PM
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              Social media manager Nitin spent his formative years perfecting the art of landing the googly, before blossoming into a book-cricket specialist. More excellence followed in the underarm version of the game before, like the majority of India's misguided youth, he started taking studies seriously. After four forgettable years of electrical engineering, followed by a rigorous MBA and 16 months in the strategy consulting industry, he began to ponder life's more profound issues. Such as the angle made by Brian Lara's bat with the horizontal at the peak of his back-lift. A move to ESPNcricinfo followed and Nitin is now a prolific nurdler in office cricket, with a questionable technique against the short ball.

          After all the fickle weather in the lead-up to the final, the forecast for the big day was particularly glum. There was just enough time to get the toss in before the rains came down at Birmingham.

          The crowd was filled with Indian supporters.

          It is important to choose your playing XI smartly in a rain-affected game. England brought in Tim Bresnan.

          Just as play was about to begin, around 100 minutes behind schedule, the skies opened up again.

          With the weather showing no signs of improving, it increasingly began to look like the title would be shared. The organisers' decision to not schedule a reserve day for the final didn't win them too many fans.

          A drastic intervention eventually halted the downpour. The stage was set for a 24-overs a side game.

          But the clouds weren't yet done for the day. Another spell of rain followed.

          After what seemed like an eternity, the final finally got underway. India batted first.

          India's openers began quite nervously against the moving ball.

          And then, it rained some more. Determined to have a result, the organisers extended the deadline to ensure there will be a 20-over game.

          The broadcasters were running out of highlight reels to show.

          Good things happen to those who wait. The game ultimately restarted under clearer skies. India quickly lost their way against Ravi Bopara's clever variations.

          Shikhar Dhawan, Suresh Raina and MS Dhoni all fell by the wayside.

          But Virat Kohli held on for India, and built up to a moderate score along with Ravindra Jadeja.

          Jadeja guided India's final charge after Kohli fell for 43, and R Ashwin was run out in comical fashion.

          India finished with 129, a sub-par score in the circumstances, but a big improvement after bring 66 for 5. They began their defence by removing Alastair Cook to a smart catch from R Ashwin in the slips.

          Jonathan Trott got going with some well-timed strokes.

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          England had the upper hand when Dhoni introduced his spinners. With the pitch assisting turn, England found the spinners a handful, but Ishant Sharma's predictable lengths made scoring easier.

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          Ashwin was in his element. He had Trott stumped down the leg side, and got Joe Root to hole out to the deep.

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          Ashwin also produced a stumping opportunity against Ian Bell. It went to the third umpire Bruce Oxenford who triggered Bell on rather flimsy grounds.

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          Eoin Morgan and Ravi Bopara rebuilt England as the game shaped up towards a thrilling finish. Just when you thought Dhoni would stick with spin, he fell back on Ishant who was having a poor day.

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          England needed 28 off 3 overs when Ishant, seemingly against logic, was given a final over. The first four balls: dot, six, wide, wide.

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          But Dhoni has a way with these left-field moves. Morgan dragged the next ball to wide mid-on, and Bopara hooked the one after straight to backward square leg.

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          Jadeja bowled the 19th over, brushing aside Jos Buttler and Tim Bresnan. England had lost their way within the space of eight balls.

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          Fifteen needed off Ashwin's final over - a bridge too far for Stuart Broad and James Tredwell. India ran home victors by five runs.

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          Yet another feather in Dhoni's cap then.

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          India's players celebrated with the obligatory Gangnam style moves, and Kohli even did a version of Chris Gayle's World T20 calisthenics. It didn't really measure up, but Gayle didn't mind it too much.

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          The final word then...

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          England have something to take from the gutting defeat - their fifth in major ODI finals overall.

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