Kumar double leaves India on top against England

BIRMINGHAM, Sept 2 (AFP): Bhuvneshwar Kumar made an early double strike from which England never truly recovered as they were dismissed for just 206 by India in the fourth one-day international at Edgbaston Tuesday.

World champions India, eyeing a series victory at 2-0 up with two to play, saw Kumar reduce England to 16 for two with two wickets in the fifth over.

Swing bowler Kumar returned impressive figures of two for 14 in an unchanged eight overs, including three maidens, at the start of the innings.

Fellow paceman Mohammed Shami followed up with three for 28 in 7.3.

Moeen Ali, recalled in place of the dropped James Tredwell, top-scored with 67 -- England's first fifty of the series.

But by the time the No 7 had come in the damage had been done.

Only Joe Root (44) and Eoin Morgan (32), who put on 80 for the fourth wicket, also made significant contributions to England's meagre total .

Whereas spin had proved the main cause of England's undoing in 133-run and six-wicket defeats in Cardiff and Nottingham respectively, Tuesday they were 23 for three before a slow bowler came on.

Kumar struck twice in four balls to remove both Alex Hales and England captain Alastair Cook after India skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni won the toss.

Hales (six) was bowled by the first ball he received from Kumar when completely defeated by an inswinger.

50 overs England 206 (Moeen 67, Shami 3-28, Bhuvneshwar 2-14) v India.