India thump Sussex by 6 wickets, record its first win of tour

Saturday, 27 August 2011 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma cracked half-centuries as India recorded their maiden win of the England tour with a six-wicket thumping of Sussex in a rain-affected practice game on Thursday.

The two talented youngsters put on 104 runs for the third wicket in impressive style as Indians chased down the 235-run target with 4.1 overs to spare after the game was reduced to 45-over-a side affair due to two rain interruptions.

Put into bat, Sussex were 236 all out with seamer R P Singh snaring four wickets but the Indians needed 235 to win due to the revised target under Duckworth-Lewis system.

The Indians looked in control even though Sachin Tendulkar (21) did not last long as the other opener Parthiv Patel (55), Kohli (71) and Sharma (61 not out) played around with an average home attack.

Kohli’s knock came from 83 balls and included six fours and a six. Sharma’s unbeaten 61 came from 65 balls and studded with eight fours and a six.

Tendullkar played some gorgeous strokes before he spooned up a catch at mid-off against left-arm paceman Chris Liddle. As many as four fours were hit by Tendulkar in his brief 17-ball knock.

Patel was similarly aggressive, relying a great deal on chipped shots behind square before he played back to off-spinner Chris Nash and missed the line completely. He made his 55 runs from 65 balls and slammed nine fours.

But Kohli and Sharma then took over and literally toyed with the home side attack, running their singles crisply and hitting big shots at will.