India bounce back

AFTER THE GOOGLY: Leg-spinner Piyush Chawla (R) is over the moon after taking the wicket of England superstar Kevin Pietersen (L) during India's 9-run win in the second one-day international at the Nevil Road ground in Bristol on Friday.Photo: AFP

Sachin Tendulkar's 99 and a blistering unbeaten 92 from captain Rahul Dravid set up a 9-run victory against England at Nevil Road on Friday night which saw them level the seven-match one-day international series at 1-1.
After India posted a massive 329 for seven, the hosts got close with 320 for eight -- England's highest total batting second.
Dravid, the man-of-the-match, followed up in style facing a mere 63 balls with one six and 11 fours.
Ian Bell top-scored with 64 and all-rounder Dimitri Mascarenhas, whose previous-best score was five, later kept England in the hunt when it seemed they were out of the game with a 36-ball fifty featuring five sixes and a four before he holed out for 52.
Teenage leg-spinner Piyush Chawla took three for 60 and pace bowler Munaf Patel three for 70.
Tendulkar was in dominating form, facing just 112 balls with one six and 15 fours as India surpassed their previous best against England of 326 for eight at Lord's in 2002.
Fast bowler Andrew Flintoff led England's attack with five for 56 -- the first time he'd taken five wickets in a one-day international.
Comeback man Patel, in for flu victim Zaheer Khan, checked England's progress with two wickets in two balls when he got rid of openers Alastair Cook (36) and Matt Prior (33).
Then young leg-spinner Chawla and portly off-spinner Ramesh Powar came into their own.
Chawla got a wicket off his second ball when his googly cleaned up Kevin Pietersen for 25. And he bowled captain Collingwood in similar style for 27.
Flintoff went for nine when he hoisted off-spinner Powar to Ajit Agarkar at deep square leg.
England had dropped their lone specialist spinner Monty Panesar but India's decision to bring in Powar alongside Chawla looked a wise move.
Bell, who like Cook had made his maiden one-day international century in England's 104-run win at the Rose Bowl on Tuesday, completed a 76-ball fifty with six fours before he skied Chawla to Patel.
It was a controversial exit for Tendulkar as a Flintoff high ball coming off his elbow before wicketkeeper Prior spectacularly caught the ball down the legside.
Tendulkar had been particularly severe on Chris Tremlett with the fast bowler's nine overs costing 73 runs.
Dravid, who won the toss, kept the runs coming with his best shot a cut six off James Anderson.
The series continues at Edgbaston on Monday.