All Round England beat India by nine runs in Series opening match

England under arrest a run of 13 straight one day international losses away to India with a nine run triumph at Rajkot.

Led by contributions from the full  batting order, England scored  a spirited total of 325 for 4 in their 50 overs. Alastair Cook (75) and Ian Bell (88) set the tone, and Samit Patel applied the quickfire  touches with a 20 ball 44.

India's openers made a strong  start, and three batsmen - Gautam Gambhir (52), Yuvraj Singh (61) and Suresh Raina (50)   made  half centuries as they set about their target. But visitors  take  wickets at crucial times, with James Tredwell the pick of the attack, to keep the hosts at bay, finally reducing  them to 316 for 9  in an amusing start to the five match series.

Having won the toss, the England skipper and Bell put on a record 1st wicket stand for England against India in ODIs, adding 158 runs  in superior time to get the innings started. Kevin Pietersen (44) and Eoin Morgan (41) then collective in a more belligerent partnership, adding 76 runs  in 65 balls.

India captain Dhoni  hit four massive sixes to unsettle England, but Dernbach, whose bowling had been average until that point, accounted for him with a slower ball when he had 32, then added Ravindra Jadeja later in the over. Ravi Ashwin and Bhuvneshwar Kumar tried to keep in touch with the run rate, but there was to be no final twist as the Indian challenge finally subsided.