Birmingham: India held on their nerves and beat hosts England by five runs in a thrilling final to lift the ICC Champions Trophy here on Sunday.
In a rain curtailed match, which was reduced to 20 overs, the Indian bowlers bowled brilliantly to defend a meagre 129 runs. R Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja and Ishant Sharma picked two wickets each. But it was Ishant's twin strike in the 17th over, in which he took the wickets of Eoin Morgan and Ravi Bopara on consecutive balls, that changed the course of the match in India's favour.
Earlier, Shikhar Dhawan continued with his good run with the bat and scored 31 off 24 balls while Virat Kohli, who took on to the crease after India lost Rohit Sharma (9) early, top scored and made 43 off just deliveries. Later Ravindra Jadeja played a cameo (33 off 25 balls) that India to 129.
Rohit Sharma was bowled by Stuart Broad for nine, while Dhawan mis-timed a drive in Bopara's first over and was caught by Tredwell at mid-off. Dinesh Karthik took catch was caught off Tredwell. India were pushed to the back-foot when Bopara struck twice in his third over, first getting Suresh Raina caught by Alastair Cook at mid-on and then MS Dhoni well taken by Tredwell on the third man boundary.
However, Kohli and Ravindra Jadeja played sensibly and added 30 runs off the next three overs before Kohli departed off James Anderson's ball. But Jadeja finished unbeaten on 33 after clouting Tim Bresnan for six in the final over of the innings.
Meanwhile England too started on a bad note as Captain Cook fell for two. Trott too went early for 20 after being stumped by Dhoni off Ravichandran Ashwin, while Joe Root was caught at long off on Ashwin's bowling. England were in deep trouble after they Ian Bell and were reduced to 46 for 4.
However, Morgan and Bopara added 50 partnership off 47 balls and at 102 for four with three overs left, the victory was very much on their sight.
But Sharma, who returned to the attack, sent Morgan and Bopara back to the pavilion on successive deliveries and there was no lloking back for the Indians thereafter.