England toil as Kambli hits rapid hundred

Former India Test batsman Vinod Kambli hit a quickfire 109 as England's inexperienced bowling attack struggled on the first day of their opening tour match against a Mumbai Cricket Association XI on Sunday.

The local side amassed 373 for five wickets at the close of play in the two-day game, giving England some early concerns at the start of what is expected to be a demanding tour.

Sairaj Bahutule was unbeaten on 52, with wicketkeeper Abhijit Shetye on 10.

Kambli, who hammered 19 fours, added 126 runs for the second wicket with opener Wasim Jaffer, who made 99, as the hosts piled up the runs after England skipper Nasser Hussain put them into bat.

Young off-spinner Richard Dawson struck twice in the second over after tea, removing Kambli and Amol Muzumdar for four to leave Bombay at 276-4.

But Bhavin Thakkar (46) and Bahutule added 60 runs for the fifth wicket to dash the tourists' hopes of a fightback.

England's opening bowlers Matthew Hoggard and James Ormond failed to cash in on early life in the Wankhede stadium pitch as runs came quickly throughout the day.

Dawson, a 21-year-old off-spinner bidding to make his Test debut in India, was the only bowler to make some impression, sending down 24 overs and completing figures of two for 81.

England managed just one success in each of the first two sessions as the Bombay XI piled up 141 runs in the afternoon after taking lunch at 123 for one.

Kambli, 29, who played the last of his 17 Tests six years ago, played shots all round the wicket, punishing every wide delivery with drives and off-glides.

He reached his 100, off 103 balls, by clipping occasional off-spinner Michael Vaughan to mid-wicket for a single.

Kambli finally fell when he flicked Dawson to substitute fielder Uzman Afzaal at mid-wicket.

Jaffer dominated the morning session, sharing a breezy 100-run opening stand with young prospect Vinayak Mane, who was run out for 33.

He failed to reach his century, however, playing an uppish shot off Craig White to Dawson at midwicket after a nervous stay on 99.

The 23-year-old, who played both Tests in India's 2-0 defeat by South Africa last year, faced 148 balls and hit 15 fours.

Leg-spinner Bahutule dominated the final hour of play, hitting eight fours in his 103-ball knock.

Mail Cricket Editor