England are in the box seat to reach the Tri-Series final after bowling India out for 200 in Friday’s one-day clash at the WACA Ground.

With England paceman James Anderson at his stingy best and spinner Moeen Ali proving difficult to face, India’s batsmen struggled to score freely.

Ajinkya Rahane made a patient 73 and fellow opener Shikhar Dhawan made a scratchy 38, but their 83-run stand was one of few highlights for the Indians.

At 1-103, India had a chance to build a competitive total despite their slow run rate.

But collapses of 4-33 and 4-13 ended any hopes of India building anything sizeable, with their innings eventually brought to an end after 48.1 overs.

Anderson conceded just 10 runs from his first six overs, and finished with figures of 1-24 from nine overs.

Fellow paceman Stuart Broad, who entered the match wicketless this series, finished with 2-56.

The WACA can be a graveyard for some spinners, but Ali thrived in the conditions to snare the key wickets of Virat Kohli (8) and Suresh Raina (1).

Anderson wasn’t just miserly, he was also destructive.

One delivery kicked off the pitch to such an extent that it struck MS Dhoni flush on the front of the helmet.

Dhoni was unhurt and was even able to have a bit of a giggle about it.

But he wasn’t laughing a few balls later when an Anderson delivery kept remarkably low to trap him lbw.

Ravindra Jadeja summed up India’s plight.

With more than six overs remaining and India needing a stable hand, Jadeja charged down the pitch and flat batted Broad for the easiest of skied catches.

Tail-ender Mohammed Shami provided some highlights at the death, with the 24-year-old cracking 25 off 18 balls to push the total to 200.

The winner of Friday’s match will meet Australia in Sunday’s final in Perth.