Tendulkar made only four runs and his opening partner Saurav Ganguly eight, but the situation was redeemed by stylish Rahul Dravid (60) and skipper Mohammed Azharuddin (43) who put on 95 important runs for the third wicket.

And their good work was consolidated by a late in the innings flourish by vice-captain Ajay Jadeja, who remained unbeaten with a characteristic 54.Tendulkar, on the sidelines with a back injury since early March, was dismissed for four and his opening partner Saurav Ganguly (8) also fell early to leave India at a precarious 19 for two.

Azharuddin fell at 114 and after TJ Mason castled Dravid's stumps with India's score at 142, the lower order failed to push up the run-rate.Robin Singh (12), Nayan Mongia (9), AjitAgarkar (0) all fell cheaply, before Jadeja took the Indians past 200.

Scoreboard
India: Saurav Ganguly c Mason b Ormond 8, Sachin Tendulkar lbw Ormond 4, Rahul Dravid b Mason 60, Mohammad Azharuddin c Mason b Williamson 43, Ajay Jadeja not out 54, Robin Singh c Williamson b Mason 12, Nayan Mongia c Mason b Williamson 9, Ajit Agarkar run out 0, Javagal Srinath not out 7. Extras (lb5, w16, nb11): 22.

Total (for 7 wickets in 50 overs): 219.
Fall of wickets: 1-5, 2-19, 3-114, 4-142, 5-172, 6-199, 7-211.
Bowling: Ormond 10-1-48-2, Mills 10-2-23-0, Dakin 10-0-47-0, Williamson 10-0-47-2, Mason 10-0-49-2.

Upashantha shines
NORTHAMPTONSHIRE: Sri Lankan Eric Upashantha upstaged his better-known team-mates as the reigning champions impressed in the field today against English county Northamptonshire.

The seamer grabbed 3-33 as Northamptonshire were dismissed for 199 with two balls of their 50 overs remaining. Heavy rain during the break, however, forced thematch to be abandoned.

Off-spinner Muthiah Muralitharan marked his return following a shoulder injury with one for 21 from 10 overs.

SA match washed out
HOVE: South Africa's match against Sussex was washed out today. Sussex had time to win the toss and decide to field before the rain came down, wrecking South Africa's hopes of a first meaningful test in English conditions.

South Africa's next chance of fine-tuning their game comes against Kent on Sunday, followed by an outing against Middlesex on May 11. South Africa will take on India in their opening World Cup encounter on May 15 at the same venue.

Double boost for England
CANTERBURY: Injury-plagued Graham Thorpe and Neil Fairbrother came through unscatched in a tournament warm-up game against county side Kent.

Thorpe, who missed the end of the recent Ashes series with back trouble, scored 55. Fairbrother -- whose career has been blighted by hamstring trouble -- ended on 54 not out as England made 197 for seven after the gamewas reduced to 38 overs.England, however, struggled to dominate in the difficult conditions, with the major concern being Alec Stewart's form. The captain, struggling in recent weeks, scratched around for over half an hou r for four runs. England open the World Cup on May 14 when they take on reigning champions Sri Lanka at Lord's. Their warm-up campaign continues against Essex on Sunday and Hampshire on Tuesday.