LONDON (AP):SACHIN TENDULKAR hit 94 yesterday and Robin Uthappa struck an unbeaten 47 to guide India to a series-levelling two wicket win over England with just two balls to spare in the sixth one day international.
Tendulkar's 81-ball innings at The Oval contributed to a speedy start to India's reply, but the tourists needed Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Uthappa to steady the innings after they stumbled to 234 for five with a little less than 10 overs left.
Dhoni and Robin Uthappa shared a sixth-wicket partnership, and Uthappa, in his first match of the series, kept his head as the wickets fell around him and sealed the win with his eighth four of his 33-ball innings as India reached 317 for eight.
Dimitri Mascarenhas, who had hit sixes from each of the last five balls of England's innings to take his team to a competitive 316 for six, and Stuart Broad each took two wickets for the home side, which must now win the final match at Lord's on Saturday to clinch a series it had led 3-1.
'Belief in this team'
India openers Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly reached 150 without loss off just 22 overs before Ganguly fell for 53 to Broad England continued to take wickets in regular bursts, the opening partnership had laid the platform for victory.
"They're fantastic, experienced players and they could do that to any team," England captain Paul Collingwood said.
After India's more experienced players had departed Uthappa, who last played as opener in a tour match in Scotland, took India to victory.
"There was just belief in this team we could get the score," India captain Rahul Dravid said. "Some of the young boys came through for us today."
England openers Alastair Cook and Matthew Prior had fallen in the first four overs of the day, leaving their team struggling soon after winning the toss and choosing to bat.
But Owais Shah hit his first international century after England had slumped to 137 for five from 30 overs, putting on 106 alongside Luke Wright in the highest sixth-wicket partnership at The Oval by any team in one-day internationals.
