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Rain trumps Tendulkar century
CHESTER-LE-STREET, England: Sachin Tendulkar's maiden one-day century against England ultimately counted for nothing as rain ensured Thursday's day-night triangular series match here at Riverside ended in a no result.
Speaking after his rapid 105 not out off 108 balls in India's total of 285 for four, Tendulkar said: "It has been quite some time coming. The first one-dayer I played against England was back in 1990.
"I have got close before but somehow missed out. It is quite good that I have been able to achieve it now." And England captain Nasser Hussain admitted Tendulkar's innings had altered the course of the match.
"We were right in it up to 40 overs, and then Tendulkar just took it away from us a little bit."
But the weather proved beyond even Tendulkar's control. England were 53 for one off 12 overs in reply when rain forced the players from the field at 1835 GMT. Nick Knight was 17 not out and Hussain nine not out.
Earlier Zaheer Khan had already claimed the only wicket of the England innings, opener Marcus Trescothick lbw for 23.
Then, after a 14 minute break, only three balls of Ajit Agarkar's first over were possible before the rain returned. Under competition rules 25 overs in both innings must be completed for a game to constitute a match.
But as the rain continued to fall the umpires eventually abandoned hopes of a resumption, both teams awarded two points.
Spectator frustration was evident and umpire David Shepherd was struck by a fan's sportsbag although the veteran English official later made it clear that the incident was an accident. Tendulkar's 32nd one-day hundred, surpassing his previous best against England of 91, included one six and eight fours.
But impressive 20-year-old Yuvraj Singh, with 40 not out from just 19 balls, scored the lion's share of an unbroken fifth wicket stand of 64.
Rahul Dravid (82) played his part too, helping India recover after they slumped to 52 for three.
India had been tied down mid-innings by some accurate England bowling but left-hander Yuvraj broke the shackles with four fours and one six in his whirlwind knock. Ronnie Irani (nought for 23 off his maximum 10 overs) and Andrew Flintoff (nought for 36 off 10) restricted India.
But with Andrew Caddick out for the series due to a side strain, the rest of the attack suffered severely. Tendulkar put on 169 for the fourth wicket with Dravid, the runs coming off 206 balls before Yuvraj's innings added impetus. Dravid too was accelerating when he holed out off Collingwood to Flintoff at deep square leg.
Keeper Dravid's 117 ball-innings included seven fours. Earlier India got off to the worst possible start when captain Sourav Ganguly, who had won the toss, was out to the first ball of the innings, lbw to a Darren Gough inswinger.
Virender Sehwag (16) and Dinesh Mongia (27) then both gave their wickets away before Tendulkar and Dravid steadied the ship. Tendulkar played steadily early on, his first fifty coming off 72 balls, his second taking just 34.
The no result left both teams level at the top of the table on 10 points.
However India, who beat England by six wickets when the teams met at Lord's on Saturday, have played three games to England's four. Sri Lanka remain winless after three matches. In the next match India play Sri Lanka at Edgbaston on Saturday.
July 04, 2002 - 1700 GMT
India score 285 for four against England
CHESTER-LE-STREET, England: India scored 285 for four after winning the toss against England in their day-night triangular series one-day international here at the Riverside on Thursday.
Sachin Tendulkar was 105 not out and Yuvraj Singh 40 not out. Both teams lead the table with two wins from Sri Lanka, yet to record a victory, although India have played two matches to England's three.
July 04, 2002 -
Dravid and Tendulkar steady ship against England
CHESTER-LE-STREET, England: Rahul Dravid and Sachin Tendulkar steadied India's innings with a fourth-wicket 88-run partnership to take their side to 140 for three in their triangular One-day International against England
on Thursday.
Tendulkar was batting on 43, while Dravid was 41 at the end of the 30th over following a slump to to 52 for three after India won the toss and chose to bat.
Pace bowler Darren Gough had struck early for the home side claiming Indian captain Sourav Ganguly lbw for a duck on the first ball of the match.
Virender Sehwag and Dinesh Mongia then took their side through to 48 for one in the eighth over when Shewag was caught by Marcus Trescothick off James Kirtley for 16.
Mongia fell just four runs later when Gough had him caught by Andrew Flintoff for 27.
However, Ganguly and Tendulkar then combined for their unbroken partnership to leave India possibly posting a total in excess of 250.
India have won the first two of their games in the series which also includes Sri Lanka. England have won two matches out of three.
July 04, 2002 - 1345 GMT
India unchanged while England alter line-up
CHESTER-LE-STREET, England: India named an unchanged side for their triangular series one-day international against England here on Thursday.
India captain Sourav Ganguly won the toss and elected to bat first, keeping faith with the team that beat Sri Lanka by four wickets at The Oval on Sunday.
Meanwhile Michael Vaughan and Ashley Giles were drafted into England's side for this day-night fixture. Vaughan came in for Graham Thorpe, sidelined with an ankle injury, as England altered their middle order. Yorkshire batsman Vaughan has not played limited-overs cricket for his country since he scored 59 in England's victory over New Zealand in Auckland in February.
But as one Yorkshireman came into the side for this day-night fixture so another was left out. Pace bowler Matthew Hoggard, who conceded 53 runs from his four overs against Sri Lanka in England's last match, was dropped and
replaced by Warwickshire left-arm spinner Ashley Giles.
All-rounder Paul Collingwood retained his place to become the first Durham player to represent his country on his home ground while veteran wicketkeeper-batsman Alec Stewart chalked up his 150th England one-day appearance.
Both teams have won twice to top the table although India have played two games to England's three.
Sri Lanka have lost all their three matches played in the tournament thus far.
England: Marcus Trescothick, Nick Knight, Nasser Hussain (capt), Michael Vaughan, Alec Stewart (wkt), Ronnie Irani, Andrew Flintoff, Paul Collingwood, Ashley Giles, Darren Gough, James Kirtley.
India: Sourav Ganguly (capt), Virender Sehwag, Dinesh Mongia, Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid (wkt), Yuvraj Singh, Mohammad Kaif, Ajit Agarkar, Anil Kumble, Zaheer Khan, Ashish Nehra.
Umpires: David Orchard (South Africa) and David Shepherd (England)
TV umpire: Jeremy Lloyds (England)
Match referee: Mike Procter (South Africa).
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