Click here to read captain Kevin Pietersen's view.

Chasing England's total of 240 in a match reduced to 49 overs after a 45-minute delay for early morning smog, India reached 198-5 after 40 when the light forced the end of contest and the hosts were ahead of the required total on the Duckworth-Lewis method.

"We went out there and gave it all we've got - so to finish it like that leaves a bitter taste in your mouth," said Flintoff.

"It's quite a bizarre scenario. As you can imagine, the lads are down in the dressing room.

"We were by no means favourites at the end. But if we had got two quick wickets then we'd be right back in it and thought we could pull something off. But it wasn't to be, and we are disappointed."

The Lancashire all-rounder insisted England could take heart from today's performance but acknowledged too they have a lot of work to do to save the series.

"I think throughout these three games we have got better and better. We have a couple more gears to go to reach our top level. If we had 30 or 40 more runs on the board today it could have been a different story," he believes.

"You can't fault the lads for the effort they showed today - we are getting closer to winning India. We've got a mountain to climb - but we have to climb it. We have no choice."

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