INDIA won the Champions Trophy after beating England by five runs in the final at Edgbaston – after the hosts collapsed in sight of victory.
England needed 130 to secure a first global one-day trophy, after a fine bowling performance against India in a rain-reduced match.
England faced the prospect of a 20-over thrash after persistent showers in Birmingham reduced the showpiece to its bare minimum.
All-rounder Ravi Bopara was the unlikely hero as the hosts kept India to 129 for seven, taking three for 20 in four overs, including the tournament’s top-scorer Shikhar Dhawan (31) and Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni, out for a duck.
However, England’s batsmen collapsed within sight of the prize.
Ishant Sharma played a key role, removing established pair Eoin Morgan and Ravi Bopara with successive deliveries in the 18th over when the England pair seemed to be steering their side past India’s mark of 129-7.
Before Morgan’s weak dismissal, England needed 20 runs in 16 balls with six wickets in hand.
What followed was not pretty, Bopara following his partner with a tame pull to square leg before Jos Buttler and Tim Bresnan departed in ugly fashion to ensure England needed 15 off the final over.
On a pitch offering elaborate turn – England were bamboozled by the visiting spinners at times – Ravichandran Ashwin closed things out easily to leave the hosts 124-8.
