Oval clash delayed by rain

An England fan waits patiently at a soggy Oval

NatWest Series, The Oval: England v India
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England's contest against India, essentially a prep match before Saturday's Lord's final between the same two sides, will now be a 32-over-a-side contest.

Heavy overnight rain, and further morning drizzle, meant a late start was inevitable and play will now begin at 1445 BST.

England will have their work cut out against an unbeaten India who also had the best of last week's rain-hit meeting with England at Chester-le-Street.

Even that match was not wasted by the tourists, for whom Sachin Tendulkar scored an unbeaten 105 - his first one-day century against England - before bad weather intervened.

Tendulkar in mourning

England, however, must pick themselves up from a limp loss to Sri Lanka on Sunday, when they collapsed from 100 for two to 206 all out, chasing 230 for victory.

The hosts' other loss was at Lord's, where Rahul Dravid and Yuvraj Singh steered India out of early trouble to a six-wicket victory with seven balls remaining.

England's failings have tended to be down to a failure to finish the job.

Killer instinct

Lower order batsmen appeared unable to keep the scoreboard ticking at Old Trafford, either finding themselves stuck in single figures or simply taking a cavalier approach but either way perishing to rash shots.

Despite miserly work throughout the tournament from mid-innings bowlers Andrew Flintoff and Ronnie Irani, the tournament has seen a glut of runs in the first 15 overs.