Ian Bell again delivers for England …

Ian Bell continued his outstanding form, notching up 79 as England posted a competitive 281 in the third one-day international at Edgbaston. The innings never quite hit its threatened heights as India plugged away and a number of batsmen made starts before giving up their wickets. However, England have given their attack, missing Andrew Flintoff, a defendable target.

They lost wickets at regular intervals, which prevented a more noticeable charge, and Bell fell in the 48th over as he tried to marshall the tail. He followed his unbeaten 126 at the Rose Bowl and 64 at Bristol with another well-paced innings, constantly having to adjust his target with each wicket. There was another fascinating battle between England's batsmen and India's spinners, who sent down 26 overs. They were introduced well inside the Powerplay and continued as late as the 45th over.

Rahul Dravid had been tempted to bowl because of the 10.15 start but the sun was soon out and there wasn't much joy for the quick bowlers. Zaheer Khan and RP Singh were economical but didn't make the early breakthroughs to fully justify Dravid's decision. Alastair Cook played confidently but was offered a life on 15 when Singh put him down at long leg as India's fielding again proved a weakness.

Prior was less convincing, playing and missing at three balls in Singh's first over, and the edges of his bat found more use than the middle. He top-edged balls over mid-on twice, but on the rare occasion he did time a shot the ball raced away. Prior again gave his wicket away in the 30s when an ungainly heave went high to cover. Although Dravid opted to run his Powerplays together, he turned to his spinners well before the 20-over mark and the move paid off.

Cook, much less convincing against the spinners, got into a tangle trying to sweep and offered a simple catch to short fine-leg. It was reward for Ramesh Powar, who gave a superb display of attacking one-day spin bowling. He flighted the ball enticingly - some deliveries were as slow as 43mph - and the batsmen struggled to get him away.

Piyush Chawla, who took three wickets at Bristol, again troubled Pietersen with his googly and changes of pace. Pietersen, whose form appears to be going backwards with each one-day innings, was beautifully set-up before being stumped as he charged down the track and played all round another wrong 'un.

It was an enthralling duel with Bell and Paul Collingwood trying to stabilise the innings with a partnership. There was a hint of block-or-bash about the approach as both batsmen managed to clear long-on while struggling to milk the runs along the ground.

The game was moving at a tempo quite acceptable for India - Yuvraj Singh managed seven overs for 39 - and England reverted to sweep mode. Collingwood's ugly attempt at a reverse sweep found short third-man, ending a stand of 75, just at the time they were aiming to press the accelerator with Bell reaching fifty off 64 balls.

Owais Shah, after a late recall to replace the injured Dimitri Mascarenhas, offered a skittish 19 which included plenty of by-play with Yuvraj. A big full toss was slammed over deep midwicket, the next ball Shah was bowled by a flatter ball and Yuvraj didn't hide his delight.

Ravi Bopara came and went for 10 and England were hindered by the absence of Mascarenhas and Flintoff which meant the tail started at No. 8. But India's fielding continued to poor right till the end as Dinesh Karthik missed a run-out against Stuart Broad, then Singh messed up the simplest of chances to catch the same batsman short when he missed the stumps from a couple of yards. Chris Tremlett's late 19 of nine balls then provided a late bonus. Between two well-matched teams, those little moments can make the difference.