Das makes a double

Shiv Sunder Das has confirmed his place in the Indian squad after an impressive 250 against Essex at Chelmsford.

The pocket-sized opener from Orissa smashed four sixes and 32 fours in his marathon effort as India piled up 516 in their first innings

Resuming on 165 overnight, Das started off where he left off, picking up boundaries at will and cruised past the 200-run mark while Ganguly unleashed his assault at the other end.

India skipper Sourav Ganguly had a good outing before the third Test against England that starts at Headingley this Thursday.

Ganguly hit two sixes and 10 fours in a whirlwind 57-ball 74 and put on 105 for the seventh wicket with Das.

Ganguly tried one big hit too many and was stumped off the bowling of Middlebrook, but Ajit Agarkar kept Das company in a stand of 78.

Das eventually holed out to Mark Ilott as Phillips ended India's innings.

Essex spinners James Middlebrook and Tim Phillips took seven wickets between them, but all the Essex bowlers took some stick.

Essex openers Darren Robinson and Richard Clinton put on 55 for the first wicket before Tinu Yohannan struck to remove Clinton.

Robinson batted fluently, hitting nine boundaries in his 59, and shared in a second wicket partnership of 53 with Andy Flower.

Harbhajan took the wickets of Robinson and Ravinder Bopara but Flower remained undefeated on 45 as Essex reached 173-3 at the close.