Nehra returned with dream figures of six for 23 from his 10 overs, the best by an Indian in World Cup, as England were shot out for 168 in 45.3 overs while replying to India's 250 for nine.

Nehra's career-best show, which deservedly earned him the man of the match award, completely overshadowed a splendid 50-run knock by Sachin Tendulkar whose innings brightened up an otherwise unconvincing batting performance by the Indians who had elected to bat in windy conditions at the Kingsmead ground. Tendulkar hammered eight fours and a stunning six that landed outside the stadium.

A copybook square cut by Sachin Tendulkar during a group A match in Durban, South Africa, on Wednesday.  India's Yuvraj Singh hits a shot during a group A match in Durban, South Africa, on Wednesday. — Reuters photos

A late charge by Rahul Dravid, who top-scored with 62 and a typically breezy 38-ball 42 by Yuvraj Singh took India to 250 where it stopped after the fall of four wickets off the last four balls of the innings.

The victory catapulted India to the second place in group A with 16 points and a high-voltage game against Pakistan on Saturday to go. India will go into the Super Six even if they lose that game, provided the other matches in the group go according to expectations — Australia beat England and Pakistan beat Zimbabwe in their next matches.

On the other hand, England, who had scored a thumping 112-run victory against Pakistan in their previous match, were left requiring to beat Australia in their last game to be in contention for a Super Six berth.

Nehra's first breakthrough came in his third over, 17th of the innings, when a struggling England captain Nasser Hussain, who took 30 balls for his 15, chased a widish ball to give a catch to wicketkeeper Rahul Dravid. Nehra trapped the veteran Alec Stewart leg before wicket with his next ball.

He then claimed the big wicket of Michael Vaughan, caught behind for 20, before running through the English middle order with wickets of Paul Collingwood (18), Craig White (13) and Ronnie Irani (0).

Andrew Flintoff, who earlier in the day bowled an outstanding spell to return with two for 15 from his 10 overs, was the only Englishman to offer resistance, top-scoring with 64 runs with five fours and three sixes in a lost cause.

Nehra's figures were the third best by any bowler in a World Cup match. The West Indies' Winston Davis (7/51 against Australia in 1983) and Australia's Gary Gilmour (6/14 against England in 1975) are the only other bowlers to have done better.

Tendulkar and Sehwag saw off the first five overs before launching an assault on Caddick and England’s new pace sensation James Anderson, hitting the two for 32 runs in the eighth and ninth over.

Tendulkar, who scored 152 against Namibia, was in a murderous mood and pulled Caddick for a breathtaking six which landed outside the stadium. He also struck eight boundaries in his 52-ball knock before giving a catch to Paul Collingwood at point just after the first drinks break.

SCOREBOARD

India:

Sehwag c and b Flintoff 23

Tendulkar c Collingwood b Flintoff 50

Ganguly c Trescothick b White 19

Mongia lbw b Collingwood 32

Dravid c Collingwood b Caddick 62

Yuvraj Singh c Hussain b Anderson 42

Kaif c Flintoff b Caddick 5

Harbhajan not out 0

Zaheer run out 0

Srinath c Trescothick b Caddick 0

Extras (b-1, lb-4, w-9, nb-3) 17

Total (9 wkts, 50 overs) 250

FoW: 1-60, 2-91, 3-107, 4-155, 5-217, 6-250, 7-250, 8-250, 9-250.

Bowling: Caddick 10-0-69-3, Anderson 10-0-61-1, Flintoff 10-2-15-2, White 10-0-57-1, Irani 6-0-28-0, Collingwood 4-0-15-1.

England:

Trescothnick c Tendulkar b Zaheer 8

Knight run out (Kaif) 1

Vaughan c Dravid b Nehra 20

Hussain c Dravid b Nehra 15

Stewart lbw b Nehra 0

Collingwood c Sehwag b Nehra 18

Flintoff c Sehwag b Srinath 64

White c Dravid b Nehra 13

Irani c Sehwag b Nehra 0

Caddick not out 13

Anderson lbw Zaheer 2

Extras: 14

Total: (45.2 overs all out) 168

FoW: 1-6, 2-18, 3-52, 4-52, 5-62, 6-93, 7-93, 8-107, 9-162.