India restricted to 219 as Tendulkar flops

Sachin Tendulkar, playing his first competitive match after an injury lay-off, flopped today as an Indian XI recovered from his cheap dis...

Sachin Tendulkar, playing his first competitive match after an injury lay-off, flopped today as an Indian XI recovered from his cheap dismissal to reach 219 for seven in 50 overs against English county champions Leicestershire in a World Cup warm-up fixture here.

Tendulkar, on the sidelines with a back injury since early March, was dismissed for four and his opening partner Saurav Ganguly (8) also fell early to leave India at a precarious 19 for two.

Skipper Mohammed Azharuddin and Rahul Dravid gave a semblance of respectability to the Indian innings by putting on 95 runs for the third wicket. Dravid top-scored with 60 while Azharuddin struck a fluent 43 before vice-captain Ajay Jadeja boosted the total with an unbeaten 54 after India elected to bat first in overcast conditions.

Azharuddin fell at 114 and after TJ Mason castled Dravid’s stumps with India’s score at 142, the lower order failed to push up the run-rate.

Robin Singh (12), Nayan Mongia (9), Ajit Agarkar (0) all fell cheaply, before Jadeja took the Indians past 200.

Scoreboard

India: Saurav Ganguly c Mason b Ormond 8, Sachin Tendulkar lbw Ormond 4, Rahul Dravid b Mason 60, Mohammad Azharuddin c Mason b Williamson 43, Ajay Jadeja not out 54, Robin Singh c Williamson b Mason 12, Nayan Mongia c Mason b Williamson 9, Ajit Agarkar run out 0, Javagal Srinath not out 7.

Extras (lb5, w16, nb11): 22.

Total (for 7 wickets, 50 overs): 219.

Fall of wickets: 1-5, 2-19, 3-114, 4-142, 5-172, 6-199, 7-211.

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Bowling: Ormond 10-1-48-2, Mills 10-2-23-0, Dakin 10-0-47-0, Williamson 10-0-47-2, Mason 10-0-49-2.

SA match washed out

HOVE: Favourites South Africa saw their warm-up match against Sussex washed out here today. Sussex had time to win the toss and decide to field before the rain came down, wrecking South Africa’s hopes of a first meaningful test in English conditions.

South Africa went into the game fielding a eleven consisting of Gary Kirsten, Herschelle Gibbs, Jacques Kallis, Daryll Cullinan, captain Hansie Cronje, Dale Richardson, Shaun Pollock, wicket-keeper Mark Boucher, Lance Klusener, Nicky Boje and Allan Donald.

Their next chance of fine-tuning their game comes against Kent on Sunday, followed by an outing against Middlesex on May 11.

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South Africa will take on India in their opening World Cup encounter on May 15 at the same venue.

Double boost for England

CANTERBURY: Injury-plagued Graham Thorpe and Neil Fairbrother gave World Cup hosts a boost today as both came through unscatched in a tournament warm-up game against county side Kent.

Thorpe, who missed the end of the recent Ashes series with back trouble, scored 55 before chipping out to short mid-wicket. Fairbrother — whose career has been blighted by hamstring trouble — ended on 54 not out as England made 197 for seven after the game was reduced to 38 overs.

Fairbroher, batting at five, brought up his half-century with a six over long on.

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England, however, struggled to dominate in the difficult conditions, with the major concern being Alec Stewart’s form. The captain, struggling in recent weeks, scratched around for over half an hour for four runs.

England open the World Cup on May 14 when they take on reigning champions Sri Lanka at Lord’s. Their warm-up campaign continues against Essex on Sunday and Hampshire on Tuesday.