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A feisty tail-end fightback almost snatched victory for India in Cuttack, but England secured a 16-run victory to tie the one-day series at 1-1.

A hat-trick of run outs, including the freak dismissal of Sachin Tendulkar, left India in desperate trouble at 186 for eight in the 41st over, chasing 251.

But Agit Agarkar hit a speedy 29 to keep the hosts in the chase right up until the penultimate over.

Agarkar and Anil Kumble put on 37 for the ninth wicket in just 39 balls.

Kumble's fall, via a leading edge to Paul Collingwood with 19 balls remaining, handed Darren Gough his 150th career wicket.

But it wasn't until Agarkar edged an attempted slog off Gough to wicketkeeper James Foster that England could breath safely.

Tendulkar was desperately unlucky to be run out at the non-striker's end, via the fingertips of a diving Ben Hollioake, after a steady innings of 45.

And sharp fielding saw VVS Laxman and Dinesh Mongia both caught short of their ground - Mongia one short of a second consecutive half century - within the next nine overs.

Slip-ups

In between those dismissals, Gough lured Virender Sehwag into chipping to Nick Knight at short midwicket.

Hollioake then followed up with a slower ball that Hemang Badani, the last recognised batsman, hoisted high for Andrew Flintoff at mid off.

Sourav Ganguly's wretched recent form resurfaced early on as he got a thick edge to a fuller delivery from Hoggard for Nick Knight to pouch at second slip.

But, while there were glimpses of the high quality outfielding seen in Saturday's opening defeat in Calcutta, there were several chances that went begging.

Tendulkar survived an edge to the slips when 22, Marcus Trescothick grounding the catch, Mongia also benefited from a mix-up between Trescothick and Knight.

And both Knight and Hollioake missed catches in the deep that could have smoothed England's victory march.

Middle order

England's 250 for seven could have been far less challenging were it not for the work of Collingwood and Michael Vaughan.

Vaughan and captain Nasser Hussain lifted the tourists from the loss of two early wickets with a run-a-ball third wicket partnership worth 69.