London, Sep 12: Indian captain M. S. Dhoni insists that his team was ready to go on and win the fourth ODI against England until the game was interrupted due to rain and was declared a tie using the Duckworth-Lewis system.

India appeared to have the upper hand after posting a score of 280-5 in their 50 overs, and the hosts were in trouble at 270-8 in 48.5 overs when bad weather intervened.

Play was held up twice because of brief showers, once with India leading by two runs, and on the second occasion England ahead under the Duckworth-Lewis system.

But the quick dismissals of Graeme Swann (31) and Ravi Bopara (96) just before the second interruption, ensured India managed to tie the game.

Addressing a post-match news conference in London, Dhoni said: "Well, I think it's not the first time. The first game, that got washed out. I think we were very close to winning that also. It was a steep target that the opposition had to achieve, so I think that would have been a very tough game."

"Of course, this one I think we did really well, and we were in a position where we could have won the game, but, you know, as I say you can''t control the weather," he added.

England now holds an unassailable 2-0 lead in the five-match series.

Dhoni, however, said that the series loss would not reduce the importance of the last match, which will be played in Cardiff on Friday.

"Well, every game is important. You know, despite the fact whether you've lost the series or whether you are still in contention of winning the series, I think every game is an international game," he said.

"As I always say, you know, we don't think too much about the result because we all know we have lost the series, but it is important to get the most out of that particular game and it won't be bad to get a victory behind us in the final game of the whole series," he added. (ANI)