India146;s Big Bang before Test

India warmed themselves up for the upcoming Test series against England defeating Hampshire by a comfortable 66-run margin on the final day of the three-day match at the Rose Bowl here today.

Chasing a target of 253, Hampshire innings folded up at 186 for nine shortly after lunch as one of their batsmen John Crawley did not come out to bat due to an upset stomach. Captain Robin Smith blamed the Indian curry that Crawley had on Saturday for his affliction.

It was Anil Kumble who trapped John Tomlinson leg before for 23 for his fourth wicket of the innings to give the Indians an early victory and almost a day off.

Shaun Udal, who took six wickets in the match, was the topscorer in Hampshire8217;s second innings with 36.

Resuming at their overnight score of 43 for two, Hampshire were in trouble when they lost Robin Smith 19 off the very first ball of the day. Smith tried to play forward to a Sanjay Bangar delivery and was adjudged leg before wicket.

Bangar, the most successful among the bowlers with figures of seven for 67, made a strong claim for a place in the Indian side, which takes on England in the first of the four Tests at Lord8217;s on Thursday, as he also topscored with an unbeaten 52 in India8217;s second innings.

Hampshire batted marginally better than in the first innings when they were bundled out for a paltry 123.

The Indian bowlers forced the hosts on the backfoot soon after start of the day8217;s play when they captured eight wickets for 129 runs. But Shaun Udal 25 and John Tomlinson 23 shared a 44-run partnership for the ninth wicket to delay the inevitable.

John Francis and Lawrence Prittipaul tried to stem the rot adding 37 runs for the fourth wicket. But Hampshire received a jolt when Francis edged a Tinu Yohannan delivery to wicketkeeper Ajay Ratra for 19.

Hamshire8217;s efforts to manage a draw suffered a setback when the innings highest scorer Prittpaul 32 was castled by Anil Kumble.

Kumble picked two more wickets, those of wicketkeeper Adrian Aymes 18 and John Hamblin 2 and Harbhajan Singh scalped Dimitry Mascarenhas who was caught behind after scoring five.