England win thriller and square series It was a fitting finale to a closely contested series. England eked out a five-run win in the final one-dayer against India at Mumbai to ensure that the six-match series was shared. With the home team needing 11 runs in the final over, Nasser Hussain put his shirt on Andrew Flintoff. And Flintoff delivered, running out Anil Kumble before castling last man Javagal Srinath with his fifth delivery and breaking into a shirtless celebratory run. The stirring comeback by the visitors must have gone a long way towards wiping out memories of their batting collapse in the afternoon. Powered by a smashing 95 from Marcus Trescothick, they were well on their way to batting India out of the game, when they allowed Harbhajan Singh to turn party pooper. The off-spinner claimed five wickets as the visitors were restricted to 255 after being 172-3 in the 27th over. India, in reply, looked to be on course for a win when they reached 191-3, Sourav Ganguly looking good on 80. But the Indian skipper’s dismissal by Ashley Giles triggered a slump which was to cost the home team the match.

Hussain: It's been a very, very fulfilling trip Nasser Hussain was full of praise for his team after England's five-run win in the final one-dayer squared the six-match series three-all. "They have a lot of confidence now," the England captain said. "If they can play like this in India they can do it anywhere in the world.” “We have really enjoyed ourselves. We messed it up earlier and should have got 300. Harbhajan bowled brilliantly, but we did not play him particularly well. I said it was down to us to put it right, and we did," he added. Andrew Flintoff had played a crucial role in the English win and his efforts did not go unnoticed by Hussain. “We were never out of the game," he said. "The fielding and bowling were excellent and Flintoff showed a lot of composure." The English skipper signed off on the right diplomatic note. "It's been a very, very fulfilling trip and I'd like to thank the Indian people for supporting the cricket so much." England’s chairman of selectors David Graveney, for his part, praised the English team and Hussain in particular. "He has shown the intensity and passion to win - and suddenly a side that was ridiculed in terms of fielding stands up with the best," Graveney said. Hussain’s counterpart, Sourav Ganguly, meanwhile, was distraught by the loss. "We threw it away," he said. "It was a good track to bat on. But it is an inexperienced side. I hope the boys learn from it, and we will improve." Man of the series Sachin Tendulkar also echoed Ganguly’s views. "We have to pull up our socks and learn to chase in a better way," the little master said.

Boycott passes his verdict on Ganguly Geoffery Boycott is one of the foremost technicians the game has seen. So when he analyses batting, the world listens. The legendary England opener, one of Sourav Ganguly’s early fans, has now passed his verdict on the latter’s woeful run with the bat. "I have observed him closely of late and I am convinced that a few minor faults have crept into his technique. His wrist is not straight when he is meeting the ball and his right shoulder is falling forward", Boycott wrote in a foreword to a book on the Indian captain - Naram Sourav, Garam Sourav. "There is only one cure for his ailment. Practice, practice and more practice. He should spend hours before the mirror and in the nets ironing out these flaws. Watching videotapes of his earlier innings should also help," Boycs added.

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