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Broad the hero as England defeat India

England's Stuart Broad plays a shot against India during their one day international match at Old Trafford in Manchester, England, on Thursday. England defeated India by three wickets to lead the seven-match series 3-1. PHOTO: AFP

Stuart Broad returned career best figures with both bat and ball as England beat India by three wickets in the fourth one day international at Old Trafford on Thursday.

When Broad, who'd earlier taken four for 51 as India were dismissed for 212, came to the crease England were in dire straits at 114 for seven. But they still needed fewer than a run-a-ball to win.

And man-of-the-match Broad helped get them with an assured 45 not out off 73 balls with three boundaries.

Together with Ravi Bopara (43 not out) he put on an unbroken 99, an England record for the eighth wicket, beating the 76 shared by Paul Nixon and Liam Plunkett against New Zealand at Perth in January.

Recalled India seamer Ajit Agarkar removed four of England's top six on his way to figures of four for 60 but couldn't inspire his team to victory.

Fast bowler Broad, who began his career as a batsman, stylishly forced Zaheer Khan off the backfoot for an all-run four -- something unthinkable as far as the India batsmen were concerned.

The tall Broad then played a shot worthy of his father Chris, the former England opening batsman, when he drove Khan down the ground for four off the back foot. But, on 25, he was fortunate to survive an leg before wicket appeal from teenage leg-spinner Piyush Chawla with English umpire Ian Gould ruling in his favor.

Bopara played some fine shots, but it was Broad who caught the eye with another superb backfoot drive as he went past his previous best of 29 not out that he reached during India's nine-run win at Bristol last Friday.
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