26 Jul 2011

England overwlehm world's no. one test side at Lord's

6:33 am on 26 July 2011

England have made the perfect start to their 4-match test cricket series against India, winning the opening game at Lord's by 196 runs.

Pace bowler James Anderson cut through India's middle order to take five wickets for 65 and the world's top-ranked test nation was all out for 261, after being set 458 for victory.

England will overtake India in the rankings if they win the series by at least a two-match margin.

Some of the crowd had started queuing for tickets at 3am in the hope of witnessing Sachin Tendulkar's 100th international century, and he was given a standing ovation when he arrived at the crease.

But he was dismissed by Anderson for only 12, and 37 will stand as his highest score at the home of cricket.

Kevin Pietersen was named man-of-the-match for his unbeaten double century in the first innings.

The second test starts on Friday night at Trent Bridge in Nottingham.