India start with a win

A brilliant unbeaten 75 by Sachin Tendulkar steered India to a three-wicket victory over Sussex in their first warm up match at Hove last night.

Batting first, Sussex scored 203 for eight in their alloted 50 overs with Ashish Nehra capturing four wickets for 27 runs. In reply, India, led by Rahul Dravid, scored 204 for the loss of seven wickets.

Tendulkar looked to be in excellent form and did not dissapoint the sizeable crowd, mostly people of Indian-origin who had turned up for the day-night match. Dinesh Mongia(56) and Virender Sehwag(26) also chipped in to ensure a comfortable victory for India in the tour opener.

Sussex

M.Yardy b Nehra 5
R.Montgomerie c Sehwag b Khan 44
M.Goodwin b Sehwag 49
J.Carpenter not out 43
B.Zuiderent b Nehra 13
W.House c Laxman b Nehra 3
T.Ambrose b Nehra 3
K.Innes run out 10
M.Davis b Agarkar 12
B.Taylor not out 3

Extras (lb-11 w-6 nb 1) 18
Total (for eight wickets, 50 overs) 203

Fall of wickets: 1-24 2-75 3-118 4-141 6-155 7-174 8-199
Did not bat: J.Lewry

Bowling: Nehra 10-0-27-4,
Khan 10-0-45-1 (w-1),
Agarkar 9-1-30-1 (w-1),
Kumble 10-0-43-0 (nb-1, w-1),
Tendulkar 3-0-15-0 (w-1),
Sehwag 8-0-32-1 (w-1)

India

D.Mongia c Carpenter b House 56
V.Sehwag c & b Innes 26
M.Kaif c Ambrose b Yardy 2
S.Tendulkar not out 75
R.Dravid b House 6
Y.Singh c & b Davis 4
V.Laxman b Innes 18
A.Agarkar lbw b Innes 5
Z.Khan not out 6

Extras (lb-2 w-5) 7
Total (for seven wickets, 48.5 overs) 205

Fall of wickets: 1-60 2-69 3-126 4-144 5-155 6-185 7-193
Did not bat: A.Kumble, A.Nehra

Bowling: Lewry 4-0-32 0 (w-3),
Taylor 10-2-33-0,
Innes 10-2-35-3 (w-1),
Yardy 6-1-30-1 (w-1),
Davis 10-0-33-1,
House 8.5-0-40-2

Mail Cricket Editor