England struggle against India duo

England drew a blank in the first 15 overs of their attempt to avoid a series whitewash in the fifth and final one-day international against India at Eden Gardens.

India promoted Gautam Gambhir to open alongside Ajinkya Rahane, having dropped Parthiv Patel, and saw the new partnership post 71 without loss after Alastair Cook put them into bat.

England bowled acceptably but not penetratively with the new ball, and Rahane and Gambhir appeared untroubled and unhurried. They were helped by occasional early lapses in the field, the worst of which came from Stuart Meaker who failed to make a routine stop on the third-man boundary as Tim Bresnan therefore conceded four instead of one.

A quick outfield gave the batsmen further impetus, one push past cover by Rahane off Steven Finn gathering unfeasible pace as it sped away for four.

Gambhir upper-edged Meaker just out of the reach of diving wicketkeeper Craig Kieswetter on 25, but there were no other alarms for the India openers.

England were without Kevin Pietersen, who fractured his thumb in the field during Sunday's six-wicket defeat in Mumbai.

They still hope he may be able to play in Saturday's one-off Twenty20, but his absence allowed Ian Bell a belated first appearance on this tour.

England's only other change saw off-spinner Graeme Swann return in place of Scott Borthwick, while for India Manoj Tiwary was in for Patel.