Setback for India as Kent triumph

Kent's James Golding played a key role in his side's 21-run victory over India at Canterbury. Golding, a 6ft 4ins seamer, took four for 42 as India were stopped in their tracks as they pursued 286 for victory. Mark Ealham also performed admirably, taking four for seven in 11 balls to polish off the tourists' innings after an unbeaten 74.

Initially India appeared well set to reach the target, although opener Virender Sehwag's aggressive innings of 45 ended when he lofted Golding to Martin Saggers at mid-off. Sourav Ganguly made 64 before misjudging a single to mid-wicket.

That brought Sachin Tendulkar to the wicket to join Dinesh Mongia, with whom he added 30 inside five overs. But after whipping a delivery on middle stump from Andrew Symonds to the cover boundary, Tendulkar played a short ball from Golding into his stumps.

Mongia top-edged to be caught by wicketkeeper Geraint Jones, and Yuvraj Singh hit straight to David Fulton at midwicket. Ealham then benefited from some desperate hitting, as first Rahul Dravid and then the Indian tail were swept away.

Earlier a second-wicket partnership of 128 in just 19 overs by Robert Key and Andrew Symonds had given Kent hopes of exceeding 300. After losing his opening partner James Hockley, caught behind by Dravid off Tinu Yohannan in the third over, Key looked in excellent form, pulling a no-ball from the tourists' captain Sourav Ganguly for six in the final over of fielding restrictions.

Key eventually fell to Harbhajan Singh for 76, stumped by Dravid as he went to hit over the top. His dismissal triggered a collapse from 138 for one to 183 for five. Symonds then departed for 75, after calling for a non-existent run to midwicket. He was sent back by Matthew Walker and defeated by Yuvraj Singh's throw.

As Harbhajan and Anil Kumble turned the screw, just 103 runs came between the 20th and 46th overs. It took a late charge from Ealham to regain Kent's momentum. Ealham hit three sixes in the penultimate over of the innings from Yohannan, which cost 28 runs. Ealham finished unbeaten on 74, from as many deliveries, having hit five sixes and five fours.