India had set a very respectable total of 304-6 at the close of their innings. Patel and Rahane started and well and put on over 50 runs on the score board but the pace of the scoring was worrying. Indias openers did not look totally convincing though as they scored only 14 runs from the second fiver over power play. Rahane came un done by Dernbach who had started bowling wonderfully, and delivered a wicked delivery which was superbly caught by the on running Finn. Indian brought in Dravid but the might Swann came up to bowl his first over in which he has had a penchant for taking a wicket in his first overs and he did just that. Bowling to Patel, Patel proceeded to take an awful shot which was easily caught by Bresnan.

Dravid sensed that wickets would need to be held onto firmly if India were to avoid a white was in the one day series as well. ‘The Wall’ did just that when Kohli came into bat with India on 57/2 after 16 overs. They proceeded to destroy the bowling attack and made a stand of over 170 runs together. Indians were hoping to see Dravid score a century in his final ODI but it was to be Kohli who reached his century. Dravid’s inings was over when was bowled for 69 runs leaving India with a good 229-3 with 9 overs still to bat. The England players shook Dravids hand as he left the field of play, acknowledging one of the cricketing worlds true legends.

India did not again find the pairing momentum that Dravid and Kohli had but Dhoni did manage a magnificent 50 runs off of 26 balls. India at the end of play were 304-6.

England came out to bat late which had been caused by a rain which has seemed to plague this ODI series. How ever with play resuming England were set 270 to win from 40 overs which was an very high run rate (6.5runs per over) and one that needed to be achieved to seal the ODI and Test series white wash. Kieswetter and Cook needed to start sharply and score freely.

England started off the first 4 overs in steam train fashion reaching 27 runs before Kieswetter’s excitement got the better of him and he was bowled for 27. Trott came in to get the score board ticking but he barely had enough time before it started again. Play had stopped again through rain with England on 57-1.

The players once again came out to bat and resume in the tenth over and the target was once again lowered by the duckworth lewis method to 241 from 34 overs. The England batsmen knew they needed runs and proceeded to smash balls away bowlers for fours and found themselves on 102-1 after 17 over when Cook was bowled by Khohli having previously been dropped the ball before by Dravid.

Bell came in to bat and got England to 160-3 before he was bowled by Singh for 26 off of 21 balls. Runs were the importance here and it was a good short knock from Bell. Trott how ever was keeping the run rate going and keeping the Indian on their toes when he finally succumbed to being caught by Singh. Trott had scored an impressive 63 off of 60 balls, England were now on 166-4.

New man Johnny Bairstow found himself at the batting crease knowing he had to keep England in this game. If he was nervous he didn’t show it as his 5th ball of his international career he hoisted Jadeja for a six and then proceeded to play a reverse leg sweep which went for four. England were on 189-4 after 28 overs, needing 53 runs from the next 6 overs to secure this exciting victory against the Indians.

Tha fans could sense the pressure and the excitement all in one go, the stage was set to see whose nerves could hold out. Bairstow it seemed like didn’t care who he was facing as he proceeded to launch another ball for six, sending the England fans into a frenzy, maybe a new star was being born as we watched this spectacle. He had scored 26 runs off of 12 balls.

Lets not forget Bopara who was once again proving his worth of being selected by bashing Singh around the Swalec stadium in Wales. England need 26 run from 24 balls and were cruising to victory, India needed something special. Bairstow once again produced a stunning six, his third from 21 balls and the prodigy was now on 41 runs off an incredible 21 balls. The partnerships between Bopara and Bairstow was breathtaking as the Bopara got England over the finish line complete the white wash.

A new hero was born and India were to go home knowing they had not one a single game against the hosts all summer.