India out of title race after heart-breaking defeat

LONDON: Defending champions India were knocked out of the Twenty20 World Cup title race after a heart-breaking three-run defeat at the hands of an inspired England in a nerve-wracking Super Eight match here.

Chasing a modest victory target of 154, India's famed batting order crumbled when it mattered the most and they could manage 150 for five to see their title defense in tatters.

The sizeable Indian crowd at the historic Lord's were in a state of disbelief as Mahendra Singh Dhoni's men failed to reach the target in the must-win game.

Gautam Gambhir (26) and Ravindra Jadeja (25) got the starts but could not convert them and Yusuf Pathan (33 off 17 balls) and Dhoni (30 off 20 balls) made a last ditch effort but it was not enough in the end.

Their title defense over, India play their next Super Eight match against South Africa in Nottingham on June 16.

The target did not look particularly insurmountable but Ryan Sidebottom's early double strike meant India did not get the start they wanted.

Rohit Sharma (9) seemed to have left his form behind in the pool stage and once again the Mumbaikar failed to do justice to the makeshift opener's role when he dragged one onto his stumps.

Suresh Raina (2) too could not replicate his IPL form and mistimed a pull shot for Luke Wright to take a well-judged skier.

Gautam Gambhir (26) looked more comfortable than most of his teammates and played some delectable cover drives before a paddle shot off Mascarenhas ended his run-a-ball stay

India chose to field first and were immediately rewarded when opener Luke Wright (1) fell to R P Singh in the second over.

England's premier batsman Pieterson walked in to bat in the second over and stayed till the 13th over to smash 46 off 27 balls with five fours and a six, forging an important stand of 71 with Ravi Bopara (37) for the second wicket.

The home team's second wicket pair then hustled the Indians, running brilliantly between the wickets and never missing a chance to go for big shots.

Dhoni tried to play on Pietersen's ego by bringing Yuvraj on as the two don't have any love lost between them.

Bopara struck Yuvraj's first ball past extra cover for four and then Pietersen did the same, sweeping the same bowler to fine leg for another four.