Chris Tremlett emerged intact from his test of character after playing a major role in helping England secure their second win of the NatWest Series against India at Edgbaston.

The 25-year-old Hampshire seamer won his place in England's squad for the seven-match series after displaying pace, bounce and hostility during the recent Test series, which persuaded selectors he could have a future one-day level.

At times he has struggled to justify that faith after being hit for 73 runs in nine overs during Friday's defeat in Bristol, while he conceded 20 runs in his opening two overs in yesterday's clash.

But he withstood that fierce attack to come back and claim two for 57 to help clinch a 42-run triumph after helping to dismiss stars Rahul Dravid and Sourav Ganguly in successive overs to swing the momentum firmly in England's favour just as India seemed on course to claim successive victories and claim a 2-1 lead in the seven-match series.

India captain Dravid, man of the match at Bristol, had again looked threatening after hitting 56 off 61 balls, when Tremlett induced a fortunate inside edge onto his pads and then the stumps to end a profitable 104-run stand off 115 balls.

If that relied on good fortune Tremlett deserved his next wicket when he tempted Ganguly, who top-scored with 72 off 104 balls, into pushing at a lifting delivery outside off stump which was superbly caught by wicketkeeper Matt Prior.

India's hopes remained intact while Yuvraj Singh remained, but a shrewd bowling change from captain Paul Collingwood to recall James Anderson into the attack ended a 51-run stand with Mahendra Dhoni, who drove to backward point and effectively ended the contest.

England's victory was all the more impressive for the disruption before the start which ruled out Andrew Flintoff and Dimitri Mascarenhas, and prompted England to recall Owais Shah and Monty Panesar.

Without Flintoff England's bowling attack appeared to lack the bowler capable of claiming important wickets in mid-innings and keeping the pressure on India's batting line-up.

But Tremlett stepped forward after an uncertain start and delivered a key spell of two for 37 from six overs and ensure England travel to Old Trafford on Thursday with the edge.

The early morning disruptions - Flintoff was ruled out with a knee injury while Mascarenhas missed out after injuring his right hand in the warm-up - did not appear to affect England's start to the match.

Put in to bat in conditions which should have favoured India's seamers, particularly with Zaheer Khan returning to their line-up after missing Bristol illness, England enjoyed a 76-run opening stand before encountering their familiar problems against the spinners.

Having lost Prior to an over-ambitious drive off Munaf Patel, it was India's trio of spinners who prevented England reaching an even more formidable total.

Alastair Cook became the first of two victims for off-spinner Ramesh Powar, mis-timing an attempted sweep to square leg and 18-year-old leg-spinner Piyush Chawla outwitted Kevin Pietersen with his googly for the second successive match, this time beating him as he charged down the wicket and allowed Dhoni to complete the stumping.

Pietersen's wicket was one of three to fall in a 10-over spell and it took a determined 75-run stand off 88 balls between man of the match Ian Bell and Collingwood to retrieve the situation.

Playing at his home county ground, where he had scored four runs on his only two other one-day international appearances, Bell remained composed while his team-mates struggled to force the pace.

Collingwood fell to an attempted reverse sweep and Shah was bowled attempting to drive off the left-arm spin of Yuvraj.

RP Singh induced Ravi Bopara into a harmless chip to cover and Bell, who hit two sixes and two fours in his 79 off 89 balls, fell attempting to drive over mid-off.

It left England relying on the nerve of Tremlett, not for the last time during the day, who clubbed 19 off nine balls including a six and a four off the final over from Singh.