Tendulkar back at ominous best

India 417-8 v Worcestershire

Indian's top batsman, Sachin Tendulkar, delivered a timely reminder to England prior to Thursday's second Test at Trent Bridge with a sparkling century against Worcestershire yesterday, as India closed on 417 for 8.

Tendulkar experienced a lean time in the opening encounter with Nasser Hussain's side at Lord's, scoring just 16 and 12 as he was frustrated by England's disciplined attack. But he showed that he was prepared to get his head down and graft against Worcestershire, hitting 169 runs off 246 balls during his five hours at the crease. He struck 30 boundaries before he was bowled by the occasional bowler Ben Smith – surely the most memorable of his career's three first-class wickets.

Worcestershire's captain, Graeme Hick, admitted: "One of the reasons why I am playing in this game was so I could stand at slip and watch Sachin bat."

India dominated, the only disappointment another failure by their captain, Sourav Ganguly, who followed his five and nought at Lord's by making a scratchy 24.

The openers, Wasim Jaffer and Virender Sehwag, put on 99, before off-spinner Gareth Batty accounted for both in his first over. In came Tendulkar, who saw Sanjay Banga hand Alamgir Sheriyar the first of four wickets and James Pipe a second catch, so 99 for 0 became 99 for 3.

Tendulkar took time to play himself in while Sheriyar removed Ganguly and Parthiv Patel, though in-form Rahul Dravid, who retired hurt on 41 but returned after the fall of the eighth wicket, steadied the ship.