Birmingham : India clinched the ICC Champions Trophy, in its last edition, with a nerve-wracking five-run victory over hosts England in a rain-hit final, giving their captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni the unique record of being the first captain to win three world titles.
After mustering what at best appeared a competitive 129/7, India produced another scintillating bowling performance to restrict England to 124/8 to cap off their excellent campaign. They were the only side in the tournament not to have lost a match en route to the final and it was only befitting that they emerged the undisputed champions, on the eve of the 30th anniversary of their first World Cup triumph in 1983.
For the first time in the tournament, the Indian batsmen struggled to force pace and if not for an intelligent association between Virat Kohli 43 and man of the match Ravindra Jadeja 31, India would have found it hard to defend the total. Off-spinner R Ashwin was the stand-out performer with the ball (2/15). Entrusted the responsibility to defend 15 runs off the last over, the off-spinner held his nerve to bowl India to memorable triumph.
Play resumed at 5.40 pm and it progressed without any rain intervention though clouds hung around threateningly. The repeated stoppages meant that Indian batsmen struggled to gain any momentum and some of the poor shots they played did not help their cause. When England batted, Umesh Yadav gave India the vital breakthrough, dismissing England skipper Alastair Cook early. The hosts stumbled again, thanks to a contentious dismissal, with Ian Bell adjudged stumped off Jadeja.The stop-start rain from morning through late afternoon, however, kept the proceedings at bay.
