CRICKET: Napier's late resistance unable to halt India A

DINESH MONGIA hit a superb century as England A were overpowered in the opening game of their three-match one-day series against India A yesterday.

The hosts won by 55 runs after the opener made 116 in a formidable total of 324 for 4. Having lost two warm-up games, England looked on as Mongia and Sridharan Sriram (92) put on 209 for the second wicket. Mongia was finally dismissed by the improving Lancashire pace bowler Sajid Mahmood.

The India A captain, Sairaj Bahutule, claimed three wickets as the tourists slumped to 115 for 5 before the Essex all-rounder Graham Napier restored some solidity with 61. The tourists' captain, James Tredwell, weighed in with an unbeaten 48, but England A fell well short on 269.

England A won toss

INDIA A

D Mongia c Napier b Mahmood 116

G Gambhir c Prior b Mahmood 13

S Sriram c Tredwell b Pietersen 92

J P Yadav c Lumb b Wagg 30

M Manhas not out 42

R R Powar not out 18

Extras (lb2 w7 nb4) 13

Total (for 4, 50 overs) 324

Fall: 1-23 2-232 3-238 4-295.

Did Not Bat: S V Bahutule, A Ratra, T P Singh, M M Patel, S S Paul.

Bowling: Mahmood 10-0-58-2; Wagg 8-0-55-1; Francis 8-0-47-0; Napier 10- 0-55-0; Tredwell 9-0-61-0; Shafayat 3-0-25-0; Pietersen 2- 0-21-1.

ENGLAND A

E T Smith b Yadav 30

M J Prior c Patel b Bahutule 41

M J Lumb run out 5

Kadeer Ali c Gambhir b Bahutule 12

K P Pietersen st Ratra b Bahutule 4

B M Shafayat c Powar b Mongia 28

G R Napier c and b Powar 61

G G Wagg c Gambhir b Sriram 5

J C Tredwell not out 48

S I Mahmood b Paul 4

Extras (lb8 w18 nb5) 31

Total (for 9, 50 overs) 269

Fall: 1-73 2-83 3-86 4-88 5-113 6-163 7-175 8-250 9-269.

Did Not Bat: S R G Francis.

Bowling: Patel 8-0-40-0; Paul 8-0-34-1; Yadav 5-0-37-1; Bahutule 10-0- 49-3; Powar 9-0-40-1; Mongia 6-0-32-1; Sriram 4-0-29-1.

Umpires: A V Jayaprakash and I Shivram.

Copyright 2004 Independent Newspapers UK Limited
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