Indians post 54-run win
over Leicester

Despite a spirited fightback, Leicestershire could not prevent the Indians from notching a 54-run victory in the third and final practice tour match in England on Wednesday.

Chasing a stiff target of 316, Leicester could manage only 261 for seven in the allotted 50 overs.

For India, Yuvraj Singh picked three wickets for 48 runs.

Earlier, the Indians brushed aside the 21-run upset against Kent to post a massive 315 for seven in 50 overs.

Virender Sehwag doused a bit of his coach's ire with a quickfire 98 and skipper Sourav Ganguly again shone with the bat, slamming a 43-ball 68 in what was India's final lead-up game before their tri-series encounter against England on Saturday.

Sehwag, criticised by coach John Wright for throwing his wicket all too often in the 30s and 40s, put his head down to make 98 from 87 balls, with nine fours and three sixes and laid the ground for a strong Indian total.

But the Indians squandered the opportunity to post a a total in the excess of 400 runs as the middle order once again flopped.

Still it was an impressive total given that star batsmen Rahul Dravid and Sachin Tendulkar were rested for the game.

The more belligerent Sehwag was overshadowed by Ganguly today as he watched in awe his skipper blast 12 fours and two sixes, or 60 runs in boundary hits en route to his 68.

The duo put on 132 runs for the first wicket in just 13 overs. India's 100 was up in the 10th over, 150 in the 16th but then wickets started to fall and run-making was reduced to a trickle.

V V S Laxman (15) spooned an easy catch to extra cover; Yuvraj Singh (1) tamely lofted to midwicket fielder and Dinesh Mongia (8) hit in the air for the fielder to take a catch at long off.

But the job had been already done. Ganguly hit at will against a modest home attack, lifting it over the fielders' head and improvising to guide a few from his stumps down to the fine leg boundary.

Sehwag drove and swept slow bowlers effectively before he was run-out going for a second run off a flick to fine leg.

Ganguly was annoyed with himself for hitting it straight to Grant Flower at deep midwicket off a full toss from Paul Crowe.

While Ganguly raced to his half century from just 31 balls, Sehwag took 36 balls for his 50.

Mohammad Kaif, late in the innings, stepped up the scoring with a 52-run knock, including four fours, characterised by hectic running between the wickets.

The home bowling, missing experienced Phil DeFreitas and Devon Malcolm from the line-up, wilted in the face of the Indian assault in perfect batting conditions on a lifeless track.

The Indians had won their first practice match against Sussex by three wickets before going down by 21 runs against Kent on Monday.

Mail Cricket Editor