The wounded tiger (meaning of Tora in Japanese), no matter if the wounds were self-inflicted, had enough strength, and surprise left in it to threaten the lives of the English batsmen in the ODI.

Irfan started at a sizzling pace and had the ball moving from the word go. It took just three deliveries for the third Test centurion Andrew Strauss to be terminated for a royal duck! It was a good length delivery that caught Strauss unaware as it moved away from there and took the edge to keeper Dhoni.

The alarm was not over for England as off the last delivery of the first over Irfan had Owais Shah out lbw! The delivery again moved off a good length but this time it came in and trapped the hapless Englishman plumb in front on the backfoot.

In the general panic situation, Pietersen was almost run out as the batsmen tried to scramble a single. Kaif missed the stumps with Matt Prior way out of the crease. Besides that there were a host of lbw decisions turned down, some of them quite close.

That was as close as Pietersen let the hosts near him as he scripted a 53-run partnership with Matt Prior, taking on the pacers and spinners with an extremely aggressive approach that had the runs flowing in buckets.

Pietersen was the extraordinary engine of the partnership as he farmed the batting, and the scoring, to power to 29 (39) having struck six 4s.

Prior tried to get in on his more illustrious colleague's act and did succeed to an extent. He stroked 22 (31) with three smashing fours.

But, he tried the attack approach once too often against the Turbanator. The sweep-shot went into the air (hitting across the line he got the top edge) and Gambhir pulled off a fine running and diving-forward-on-knees catch at deep square leg.

England in all sorts of trouble at 57/3 in the 12th over as skipper Andy Flintoff walked in.

And promptly set off on a run spree dispatching the Indian bowlers over, or across, the ropes at will. He and Pietersen scripted a 63-run partenrship in good time (8 overs).

In desperation, Dravid tossed the ball to Yuvraj Singh and sat back in trepidation. It was the moment of truth, when the fate of the match would be decided. There was max risk in the venture. If Yuvi did not click then he would be murdered for runs and India could kiss goodbye the 1st ODI. The bowler acted smart, he used lower trajectory balls. One attempt at a yorker was swept in the air by Pietersen and it was gratefully accepted by Gambhir at deep mid-wicket! He fell for 46 (49), smashing 9 fours in the bargain!

The match still loaded in England's favour a mite, and that was when Turbanator finally reloaded his arsenal and blasted out, arguably the most valuable player for England, its skipper Flintoff.

Pitched just outside off, the ball came in a tad and evaded Flintoff's attempt to sweep it across the line. He was well forward but he was struck in line with the stumps and the ump raised his finger. Freddie walked back dejectedly. He fell for a scintillating 41 (37) embellished with four 4s and two 6s. The over was just the 21st and England had collapsed to 117/5!

Team India was not done yet. The tailenders felt the searing heat of the weaponry unleashed... in the form of Yuvraj Singh! He kept a tight leash on the scoring while the Turbanator struck the killing blows.

Geraint Jones was treated to some explosive stuff by the Turbanator, denying him any attempt to lob back the grenades he was hurling. The England keeper's fort was busted after ten dot balls when he was out lbw. England 120/6.

All over bar the shouting in the 23rd over!

Ian Blackwell became the Turbanator's fourth victim when he was caught by Gautam Gambhir after sticking around for 20 deliveries to make 10 runs.

England's last hope, in the form of Paul Collingwood, was terminated in the 31st over after a promising start by the Turbanator. Collingwood moved forward to flick but the shot was caught brilliantly by Kaif, fielding at forward short leg, moving fast to his right. He fell for 8 (24). The Indian players went into raptures of joy and celebrations, tumbling an falling.

Yuvi got rid of cannonfodder Ali as the tailender moved back into his crease. The ball trapped him lbw for a duck. England 142/9.

The last wicket pair of Anderson and Plunkett added 22 runs and stuck around for 6 long overs before Irfan had him caught behind for 14 (31).

India won the 1st ODI of series by 39 runs.

Dravid 'n Boys' Kamikaze Act in Delhi