Bad light comes into play; India takes 3-0 lead

India emerged as winner by 16 runs through the Duckworth-Lewis method as bad light comes into play during the third One-Day International between India and England in Kanpur on Thursday, taking a 3-0 lead in the seven-match Hero Honda cup.

Chasing a victory target of 241 in 49 overs, India were 198 for five in 40 overs with captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni (29) and Yusuf Pathan (12) at the crease when poor light denied further play. Indians were 16-run ahead of the revised target of 182 runs as they ended up scoring 198/5.

Openers Gautam Gambhir and Virender Sehwag started up well contributing 31 runs before Gautam was dismissed for 14 by all-rounder Andrew Flintoff. Suresh Raina, though, got out shortly contributing only a single, a partnership between Sehwag and Rohit Sharma (28) kept the Indian run-chase on track. Sehwag came out as the top scorer with 68 before falling to Flintoff.

Yuvraj Singh, who has already recorded two uninterrupted stunning centuries in the first two games, only managed to score 38 runs.

Earlier, England making a cautious start, but got all out in 48.4 overs putting 240 runs on the board to defend. Ravi Bopara (60) and Ian Bell (46) and Owais Shah (40) were leading contributors.

Final Score:

England: Total (all out in 48.4 overs) 240; Ravi Bopara (60), Ian Bell (46), Andrew Flintoff (26), Owais Shah (40), Samit Patel (26)

Zaheer Khan (1/41), Munaf Patel (2/36), Ishant Sharma (2/60), Harbhajan Singh (3/31), Yuvraj Singh (1/41), Yusuf Pathan (1/7)

India: Total (for five wickets in 40 overs) 198 (D/W method); Virender Sehwag (68), Rohit Sharma (28), Yuvraj Singh (38), MS Dhoni (29)

Andrew Flintoff (3/31), Stuart Broad (1/36), Graeme Swann (1/46)

Toss: England, who chose to bat first Result: India won by 16 runs (Duckworth-Lewis Method) Man of the Match: Harbhajan Singh (India)