Captain Alastair Cook paid tribute to England's lower order after they held their nerve to secure a three-wicket win in an awkward Duckworth-Lewis chase against India at The Oval last night.

England clinched an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series, but only after Ravi Bopara's calming innings of 40 from 41 balls saw them creep home.

England had looked on course for a simpler triumph when Craig Kieswetter blasted 51 at the top of the order, but a mid-innings hiccup saw them slip to 133 for five.

And with a rain delay forcing a testing revised target of 218 from 43 overs, a cool head was needed. Bopara duly provided it as he combined with Tim Bresnan in an important late stand before Graeme Swann hit the winning runs with seven balls to spare.

"It was touch and go there but it was pleasing the way we handled the pressure," Cook said.

"Credit has to go to the lower order, especially Ravi.

"It was a good score. When we started, though, we felt like it was a good wicket.

"We were surprised at how much it turned after the rain delay. It was pleasing the way we handled that after the resumption.

"It was slightly disappointing that no-one got the 80-odd to win the game but everyone in that order is playing well."

England's success was set up early in India's innings as they fell to 25 for four after Cook sent the tourists in on a green wicket.

India, still without a win over England after two months on tour, battled back thanks to Ravindra Jadeja (78) - who only arrived in London as an injury replacement on Thursday - and skipper MS Dhoni (69) to post a defendable 234 for seven.

"We knew it would do a little bit early on," Cook added.

"The way Tim Bresnan and Jimmy exploited the conditions made it tough and to get those quick wickets was important for us."

Dhoni was left to lament his side's start after Anderson (3-48) routed their top order.

"We lost quite a few early wickets and that made a big impact on the game," he said.

"To get close to what we put on board was a good task. Especially Jadeja in his first game back.

"It was not enough runs though, so we had to bowl well.

"With the rain, we had an advantage in the sense we lost seven overs and not many runs.

"But the disadvantage was that it started to come on to the bat after the rain and the outfield was wet."

Munaf Patel ended the opening stand, when Alastair Cook shuffled across to be lbw to a full-length ball - but a series of trademark Kieswetter shots to the long boundaries at midwicket and extra-cover bagged a 34-ball 50 and appeared to have put England in control.

Kieswetter and Jonathan Trott misread straight-on deliveries, from Jadeja and R Ashwin (3-40) respectively, to be bowled.

England then surprisingly sent Ben Stokes in ahead of Bopara for only his second international innings, at a pivotal 89 for three, with Ian Bell yet to establish himself at the other end.

Both Stokes and Bell got started either side of the interruption but could not carry the game, in pursuit of a recalculated 218 from 43 overs. Bell went first, short of his ground after being sent back for an attempted leg-side single and beaten by Dhoni's smart thinking and direct hit, and then Stokes was bowled behind his legs trying to sweep Ashwin.

Bopara and Bresnan were therefore left needing 85 in 15 overs and kept England on track in a stand of 60 which ended when the Yorkshireman was bowled trying to engineer more runs through the off-side off Jadeja.

There was one more late twist, Bopara bowled by an Ashwin off-break which barely touched the bail, and Stuart Broad and Swann therefore had to finish the job.

Earlier, Anderson had a hand in all India's first four wickets before Dhoni and Jadeja shared a century stand. The latter hit ten fours from 89 balls for a career-best contribution in tough circumstances.

Dhoni finally lofted a simple catch off a slow full-toss back over Bresnan's head for Cook to run round from mid-off.

But Jadeja stayed until the last over, when he was caught at long-on off Jade Dernbach.