England end with creditable draw

16 November 2008 | By Rob Barnett

Mike Gatting and England captain Graham Gooch talk tactics in the second ODI

In the second of the latest series of classic photo stories, ecb.co.uk looks back at England's 3-3 one-day international series draw with India in early 1993.

Graham Gooch`s side lost the Test series 3-0 but fared better in the limited-overs encounters which were interspersed by the Tests.

The tourists began their ODI preparation with a nine-wicket defeat to a Board President's XI in Delhi on January 13.

The opening one-dayer had been due to take place in Ahmedabed three days later but it was cancelled following disturbances there. Instead England played another warm-up match, against a Bishen Bedi Invitation XI on January 15 in New Delhi, which they won by two wickets.

The series proper began on January 18 at Jaipur where England prevailed in a last-ball thriller despite Vinod Kambli's unbeaten 100 for India. Alec Stewart's 91 and 46 not out from Neil Fairbrother clinched a four-wicket triumph.

The hosts levelled proceedings three days later at Chandigarh as opener Navjot Sidhu's 76 helped secure a five-wicket victory.

The ODIs then took a back seat during the Test series which finished in an India whitewash.

Bangalore was the venue for the next ODI on February 26 when England bounced back from their Test series disappointment to re-open a lead.

Medium-pacer Paul Jarvis was England's star with an ODI-best 5-35 as India were dismissed 48 runs short of the tourists' 218 for nine, during which fellow-seamer Javagal Srinath also took five wickets.

The tour moved on to Jamshedpur where England won again, in a match reduced to 26 overs-a-side, to build a 3-1 lead.

India keeper Vijay Yadav and England batsman Robin Smith take evasive action at Chandigarh

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Paceman Devon Malcolm was economical in limiting India to 137 for seven before Fairbrother`s unbeaten 53 edged England home with two balls and six wickets remaining.

Gwalior hosted the last two matches on March 4 and 5, the second added to the original schedule following the cancellation at Ahmedabed.

Opener Robin Smith's 129 boosted England's hopes of clinching the series victory with a game to spare. However, when he was fourth out with the score on 246, they collapsed to 256 all out from 50 overs.

India were briefly in trouble at four for two but 74 from captain Mohammad Azharrudin and an unbeaten 134 from Sidhu kept the series alive. Sidhu saw his side home by three wickets with two overs to spare.

England made another excellent start to the decider thanks to 72 from Smith and 105 not out from Graeme Hick, enabling them to set a challenging 265 for four in their maximum 48 overs.

Regular wickets during India's chase kept the game in the balance but Azharuddin's unbeaten 95 saw his side reach reach their target with eight deliveries and four wickets in hand.

To view the photo story, click on the image of Mike Gatting and Graham Gooch. Unfortunately, only images from the warm-up matches and the first two ODIs are available.