England humiliated in one-day warm-up
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.England's build-up for the one-day series against India was left in disarray today, after they slumped to a humiliating warm-up defeat against Mumbai.
Just three days before the opener to the seven-match series in Rajkot, the tourists were dismissed for a lowly 98 in reply to Mumbai's 222 for seven.
Facing a team made up mostly of club professionals, England never recovered from losing their first five batsmen inside the first 12 overs - with seamer Khsemal Waingankar, who has played only one first-class match in his career, claiming five wickets.
It follows a similarly shambolic effort in Antigua in the Stamford showdown when they were dismissed for just 99, and leaves the tourists facing an intensive few days of practice before they face India on Friday.
England restricted Mumbai to a modest total, after deciding to bowl first, with Samit Patel and Steve Harmison claiming two wickets each.
It took a determined 65 from left-hander Sushant Marathe and a quickfire 37 off 35 balls, which included three sixes and a four, from Shaoib Shaikh to guide Mumbai even to that respectable total.
But having performing impressively against more modest opposition on Sunday, England's brittle batting was exposed against the new ball - and they failed to recover from their dismal start.
Warwickshire batsman Ian Bell had looked in good touch scoring 58 in Sunday's emphatic victory over the Mumbai Cricket Association in a 12-a-side match - but lasted just two overs today.
Facing seamer Kshemal Waingankar, Bell hung his bat outside off-stump almost in practice at a cut shot - apparently believing the wide delivery would pass harmlessly to the wicketkeeper but instead edging the ball behind.
Wicketkeeper-batsman Matt Prior suffered his second successive failure of the tour in the next over when he was given lbw to seamer Rajesh Verma, from a delivery which kept low.
Waingankar claimed his second victim in his next over and took the key wicket of Kevin Pietersen, who advanced down the wicket trying to whip the ball through mid-wicket but was hit on the pad - and the umpire upheld the appeal.
Patel, promoted to number five to give him batting practice, was fortunate to survive another lbw appeal two balls later as he and Paul Collingwood tried to rescue the innings.
Their partnership lasted only five overs, however, Collingwood advancing down the wicket to Verma and driving straight to mid-on to leave England's innings in disarray.
Patel lasted a further three overs before also falling, this time edging Waingankar to second slip.
Andrew Flintoff lasted just one over before edging behind, and Ravi Bopara fell in similar circumstances - while Luke Wright gave Waingankar his fifth victim when he played, pushing forward defensively.
England had decided to rest Owais Shah - while Stuart Broad was also left out because of a sore right knee in Sunday's outing and was replaced by Sussex all-rounder Wright.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments