Fifth ODI of Natwest Series ends in a no result

Chester-le-Street, July 04: Sachin Tendulkar's maiden one-day century against England ultimately counted for nothing as rain ensured Thursday's day-night triangular series match here at Riverside ended in a no result.

England were 53 for one off 12 overs in reply to India's 285 for four when rain forced the players from the field at 1835 GMT.

Nick Knight was 17 not out and captain Nasser Hussain nine not out.

Zaheer Khan had already claimed the only wicket of the innings, opener Marcus Trescothick lbw for 23 to leave England 30 for one in the sixth over.

Then, after a 14 minute break, only three balls of Ajit Agarkar's first over were possible before the rain returned.

Under competition rules 25 overs in both innings must be completed for a game to constitute a match.

But the umpires eventually abandoned hopes of a resumption at 2020GMT.

Earlier Tendulkar's 32nd one-day hundred, but first against England, concluded with him 105 not out off just 108 balls.

Tendulkar, whose previous best against England was 91, struck one six and eight fours.

But impressive 20-year-old Yuvraj Singh, with 40 not out from just 19 balls, scored the lion's share of an unbroken fifth wicket stand of 64.

In all India scored 106 runs from their final 10 overs.

Rahul Dravid (82) played his part too, helping India recover after they slumped to 52 for three.

India had been tied down mid-innings by some accurate England bowling but left-hander Yuvraj broke the shackles with four fours and one six in his whirlwind knock.

Ronnie Irani (nought for 23 off his maximum 10 overs) and Andrew Flintoff (nought for 36 off 10) did a good containing job for England captain Nasser Hussain.

But with Andrew Caddick out for the series due to a side strain, the rest of the attack suffered severely.

Tendulkar put on 169 for the fourth wicket with Rahul Dravid, the runs coming off 206 balls before Yuvraj's innings added impetus.

Dravid too was accelerating when he holed out off Collingwood to Flintoff at deep square leg.

Keeper Dravid's 117 ball-innings included seven fours.

Earlier India got off to the worst possible start when captain Sourav Ganguly, who had won the toss, was out to the first ball of the innings, lbw to a Gough inswinger.

Virender Sehwag (16) and Dinesh Mongia (27) then both gave their wickets away before Tendulkar and Dravid steadied the ship.

Tendulkar played steadily early on, his first fifty coming off 72 balls, his second taking just 34.

The no result gave both teams two points and left them level at the top of the table on 10 points.

However India, who beat England by six wickets when the teams met at Lord's on Saturday, have played three games to England's four.

Sri Lanka remain winless after three matches 

In the next match India play Sri Lanka at Edgbaston on Saturday.