India off to flying start

India's veteran openers made a positive start to their side's bid to keep the NatWest Series against England alive at Headingley.

Sachin Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly raced the score to 78 without loss after 15 overs, taking full toll on an England attack lacking the injured Andrew Flintoff, who has suffered a recurrence of ankle trouble.

Amazingly it took 18 balls to register the first run and only seven runs came from the opening five overs, after England captain Paul Collingwood won the toss in overcast conditions.

But a Tendulkar blitz against Jon Lewis - Flintoff's replacement - boosted the rate considerably.

Tendulkar found the boundary four times in Lewis' third over, which cost 18, and left-hander Ganguly, playing his 300th one-day international, also began to find the ropes with some audacious hitting.

India enjoyed one moment of good fortune in the early stages as Tendulkar, on 33, was put down by wicketkeeper Matt Prior, standing up to Collingwood's medium pace.

That let-off in the 11th over came immediately before Collingwood opted for the first optional powerplay.

An England victory in Leeds will decide the seven-match series but they were not helped by Flintoff's latest injury and a foot problem to Hampshire paceman Chris Tremlett.

India left-armer Zaheer Khan was passed fit, however, following discomfort in his ankle. Fellow southpaw Rudra Pratap Singh was omitted as the Indians, needing to win to keep the campaign alive, chose to recall Gautam Gambhir in a bid to lengthen their batting.