(AP Photos)

England's batsmen squandered a good start as its middle-order caved in against Indian spin and was bowled out for 240 in Thursday's third one-day international.

England won the toss and got a good foundation with a 79-run opening partnership in 14.1 overs between Ravi Bopara (60) and Ian Bell (46), but after Bell went the tourists could not put together a serious partnership and were eventually bowled out in 48.4 overs.

Hazy conditions delayed the start by 45 minutes and reduced the match to a 49-over contest.

Bell struck eight boundaries off 47 balls before nicking a delivery from pace bowler Munaf Patel (2-36) to wicketkeeper Mahendra Singh Dhoni. Captain Kevin Pietersen (13) and Paul Collingwood (1) then went in quick succession and the scoring rate slowed.

Off-spinner Harbhajan Singh claimed his 200th wicket in one-day internationals when he dismissed Owais Shah (40), returning figures of 3-31 to be the best of the bowlers.

India leads the series 2-0.

Sapa-AP

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