Jamshedpur, April 12:

Andrew Strauss compiled an assertive 74 on Wednesday to anchor England’s five-wicket victory over India in the sixth limited-overs cricket.

Strauss posted his seventh limited-overs half-century to propel the tourists to 227/5 in the 42nd over after India was bowled for 223 in 48 overs.

Strauss shared an opening partnership of 107 with Ian Bell (46) that spurred England’s run chase and secured its first victory of the seven-match series.

India has already clinched the series, leading 4-1 after the fifth match was abandoned without a ball being bowled.

India’s innings revolved around an emphatic knock of 96 by Mahendra Dhoni and his 107-run stand with Ramesh Powar (54) that pulled the home team back into the match after its top-order fell with just 79 runs.

Bell was caught behind off offspinner Harbhajan Singh (3-30) while Vikram Solanki (7) fell cheaply, but Strauss struck 10 boundaries off 85 deliveries and put England on the victory course before he was forced to retire hurt by cramps.

Kevin Pietersen (33) and Paul Collingwood (23 not out) ensured England did not falter.

Dhoni struck three sixes and 10 boundaries to stamp his authority against England’s seam attack. He was caught by Solanki at mid-wicket off seamer Sajid Mehmood (3-37).

Powar struck his maiden limited-overs half-century. He was caught by Matthew Hoggard off Paul Collingwood (1-11).

Batting first after stand-in skipper Virender Sehwag won the toss, India’s innings tottered as opener Sehwag (4) and Mohammad Kaif (15) failed again.

Sehwag fell on the fifth ball, edging a James Anderson (3-28) ball to Solanki, and Kaif was trapped lbw by Liam Plunkett (2-22).

Yuvraj Singh was clean bowled by Plunkett, playing an attempted pull shot on to his stumps, before wicketkeeper Matthew Prior snapped two catches that dismissed Suresh Raina (2) and Venugopala Rao (10).

SCOREBOARD

INDIA

V Sehwag c Solanki b Anderson 4

M Dhoni c Solanki b Mahmood 96

M Kaif lbw b Mahmood 15

Y Singh b Plunkett 4

S Raina c Prior b Plunkett 2

V Rao c Prior b Anderson 10

R Powar c Hoggard b Collingwood 54

H Singh b Pietersen 4

R Singh c Blackwell b Mahmood 7

V Singh c Blackwell b Anderson 8

M Patel not out 1

Extras: 18 (lb4, w14)

Total: 223 (48 overs)

FoW: 1-4, 2-46, 3-58, 4-63, 5-79, 6-186, 7-196, 8-209, 9-216

England bowling: Anderson 9-2-28-3, Hoggard 8-0-59-0, Mahmood 8-0-37-3, Plunkett 5-0-22-2, Blackwell 10-0-33-0, Solanki 4-0-25-0, Pietersen 1-0-4-1, Collingwood 3-0-11-1

ENGLAND

A Strauss rtd hurt 74

I Bell c Dhoni b Harbhajan 46

V Solanki b Powar 7

K Pietersen c & b Harbhajan 33

P Collingwood not out 23

M Prior c Vikram b Harbhajan 3

L Plunkett c Sehwag b Powar 0

I Blackwell not out 14

Extras: 27 (lb10, w7, nb10)

Total: 227/5 (42.4 overs)

FoW: 1-107, 2-120, 3-198, 4-207, 5-209

India bowling: R Singh 8-1-48-0, Patel 7-0-37-0, V Singh 5-0-33-0, Harbhajan 10-0-30-3, Powar 8.4-0-44-2, Yuvraj 4-0-25-0