Cook hails brilliant Bairstow

Jonny Bairstow's dream England debut left captain Alastair Cook marvelling at the young Yorkshireman's "spectacular" first international innings.

Bairstow described his unbeaten 41 from only 21 balls as a "dream come true" as England inflicted yet another defeat on hapless India to win the NatWest Series 3-0 at rainy Cardiff. An unbroken stand of 75 in 40 balls between Bairstow and Ravi Bopara eased England home by six wickets and with 10 balls to spare.

"That was an outstanding chase, 240 in 34 overs, to get it done with 10 balls to spare," Cook said. "The batting line-up as a whole can take a lot of credit for that, and the way Jonny and Ravi finished it off was spectacular."

It seemed India had put a defendable total on the board at last after Virat Kohli (107) and Rahul Dravid (69) - in his last ODI innings - helped to pile up 304 for six, but after Cook and Jonathan Trott had hit near run-a-ball 50s in reply, Bairstow and Bopara took over.

Bairstow hit only his fifth ball in international cricket high over midwicket for six, but the 21-year-old was notably modest.

"I just wanted to go out and play my natural game," he said. "It wasn't necessarily easy and it was really pleasing the way it turned out in the end. Ravi played outstandingly well."

Bairstow appeared in control throughout, but added: "There were obviously some nerves. That's only natural and you've just got to turn them into something positive.

"It was a new challenge and something I really enjoyed. A massive part of it is how the guys, the captain and the coach, make you feel when you come into the set-up. You're made to feel completely at home."

Bairstow repaid Cook and company instantly, hitting three sixes in all - two out of the ground - to keep India winless in all formats throughout the summer. He was only summoned into the squad on Thursday after Ben Stokes aggravated a finger injury in practice.

"To start off like this is a dream come true," he added.