England remain hopeful all-rounders Andrew Flintoff and Ravi Bopara can return to action sooner rather than later after an injury-jinxed weekend.

Both will be assessed in the aftermath of the rain-affected, 38-run defeat to India which reduced England's NatWest Series lead to 3-2.

Flintoff has experienced discomfort in his troublesome left ankle and missed the contest at Headingley, while Bopara dislocated his right thumb in dropping a return catch, although he later batted in pain.

Both men will report to the Brit Oval on Tuesday ahead of the penultimate encounter in the seven-match campaign.

"It's a quick turnaround after the one-day series but they will both be gauged in the next couple of days and hopefully they are not as bad as they may seem at the moment," said captain, Paul Collingwood.

"Obviously the medical staff will assess them over the next couple of days and then make a decision."

After the wet weather made its first cut into England's innings, their target was reduced from 325 to 311 from 45 overs.

Resuming on 105 for four in the 17th over, it appeared a forlorn hope and Collingwood, who hit four sixes, said: "We knew it would be a tall order, we needed everything going our way."

England would have sealed the campaign with victory but were forced onto the back foot by India veterans Sachin Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly despite winning the toss in overcast conditions.

That pair shared 116 for the first wicket and Yuvraj Singh and Gambhir also hit half-centuries in India's 324 for six.