Bresnan provides late impetus to secure win

It fell to Ravi Bopara to score the telling runs after Craig Kieswetter (51) had made an encouraging start in reply to 234-7 – only for two wickets to fall twice in successive overs and dent England’s momentum either side of an unscripted break for rain.

New recruit Ravindra Jadeja (78) and captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni (69) had given India a chance, after James Anderson had reduced the tourists to 13-3 and then 58-5.

But in the end England just had enough batting depth to prevail, with seven balls and three wickets to spare, and remain on course for an unprecedented whitewash of India in all three formats.

Munaf Patel ended the opening stand, when Alastair Cook shuffled across to be lbw to a full-length ball – but a series of trademark Kieswetter biffs to the long boundaries at mid-wicket and extra-cover bagged a 34-ball 50 and appeared to have put England in control.

Kieswetter and Jonathan Trott misread straight-on deliveries, from Jadeja and R Ashwin (3-40) respectively, to be bowled.

England then surprisingly sent Ben Stokes in ahead of Bopara for only his second international innings, at a pivotal 89-3.

Both Stokes and Ian Bell got started either side of the interruption but could not carry the game, in pursuit of a recalculated 218 from 43 overs. Bell went first, short of his ground after being sent back for an attempted leg-side single and beaten by Dhoni’s smart thinking and direct hit, and then Stokes was bowled behind his legs trying to sweep Ashwin.

Bopara and Tim Bresnan were therefore left needing 85 in 15 overs – and kept England on track in a stand of 60 which ended when the Yorkshireman was bowled trying to engineer more runs through the off-side off Jadeja.

There was one more late twist, Bopara bowled by an Ashwin off-break which barely touched the bail, and Stuart Broad and Graeme Swann therefore had to finish the job.

Earlier, Anderson (3-48) had a hand in all India’s first four wickets.

But Dhoni and Jadeja, who flew in just two days ago as India’s eighth injury replacement of what has seemed a cursed tour, then shared a century stand.

The latter hit 10 fours from 89 balls for a career-best contribution in tough circumstances and instant vindication for his journey.

But wickets fell at regular intervals and the doubts over whether their total was sufficient proved to be vindicated in the end.