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England skipper frustrated after gloomy defeat

(Agencies)
Updated: 2008-11-21 10:19

KANPUR, India - England skipper Kevin Pietersen was left frustrated after bad light dashed his team's hopes in the third one-dayer against India on Thursday.

England captain Kevin Pietersen looks on during the third one-day international cricket game between India and England in Kanpur, India, Thursday, Nov. 20, 2008. India defeated England by five wickets on basis of the Duckworth-Lewis method of calculating results of matches shortened by weather conditions.[Agencies]

The hosts claimed a 16-run win on the Duckworth-Lewis rule for weather-affected games after the match was called off in hazy conditions with India on 198 for five, still 43 runs from the target with nine overs left.

"I knew it would be difficut to get a game in," a disappointed Pietersen told reporters after the result put his team 3-0 down with four to play.

The match was reduced to 49 overs each after the start was delayed by 45 minutes because of poor light in the morning.

The England skipper was seen in animated discussion with the umpires as his Indian counterpart Mahendra Singh Dhoni, aware of his team's advantage, walked off the pitch with his batting partner.

"We tried to chat with the umpires, but at the end of the day decisions were made, it has to be half an hour between innings and after the toss," he said, referring to attempts made by the England camp to try and reduce the breaks.

He felt the teams could have used the floodlights in the stadium, which did come on soon after the game was called off.

Teams need to agree in advance beforehand to allow for lights to be switched on if required in day games.

He was concerned the sixth game, to be played in India's northeastern city of Guwahati on Nov 29, could also be affected by bad light.

"We go to Guwahati, it is in the northeast where the sun comes out even earlier. At 4 o clock it is going to be dark there."