England won the opening match of the Akai-Singer Champions' Trophy defeating India by seven runs

in Sharjah yesterday.

Set to score 251 runs for a win in 50 overs, the Indians were all out for 243 in 49.3 overs. Skipper Sachin Tendulkar hit 91 while Alay Jadeja contributed with a 50.

Earlier AFP adds: India bowled out England's new-look one-day team for 250 despite a brilliant 116 off 111 bails by Alec Stewart.

Stewart hit nine boundaries and a six to provide England the perfect start after India won the toss and elected to field in the day-night match.

Stewart and Alistair Brown put on 42 for the first wicket by the eighth over, before Brown was caught at mid-on off Abey Kuruvilla for 18.

Stewart then added 89 for the second wicket with Nick Knight (42). and 78 for the third with Graeme Hick (32) as England moved to a commanding 209 for two by the 40th over.

But a dramatic collapse saw the young Englishmen lose their last eight wickets for the addition of Just 41 runs and were bowled out with one delivery still remaining in their stipulated 50 overs.

Kuruvilla led India's fightback by bowling both Hick and skipper Adam Hoilioake in his second spell.

Stewart drove a slower ball from Anil Kumble to Mohammad Azharuddin in the covers and Graham Thorpe was run out for three

When Javagal Srinath had Matthew Fleming caught behind for nine in tne 45th over. England were reeling at 232 for seven.

SCOREBOARD

Scoreboard of the England

Innings In the opening Champions Trophy limited-overs match against India on Thurs-

ENGLAND

A Brown c Ganguly b Kuruvilla 18 Stewart c Azhar b Kumble 116 Knight c Kumble b Chauhan 42 Hick b Kuruvilla 32

Hoilioake b Kuruvilla 4

Ealham run out 9

Thorpe runout 3

Fleming c Karim b Srinath 9

D Brown c Tendulkar b Srinath 6 Croft c Kuruvilla b Srinath 6

Headley not out 1

Extras: Ob-3, w-1) 4

Total: (all out in 49.5 overs) 250

Fall of wickets: 1-42; 2-131; 3-209; 4-211; 5-215; 6-218: 7-232; 8-237; 9-248; 10-250

Bowling O M R W

Srinath 8.5 0 37 3

Kuruvilla 10 0 50 3

Kumble 10 0 53 1

R Singh 6 0 34 0

Ganguly 2 0 14 0

Chauhan 9 0 35 1

Tendulkar 4 0 24 0

(Incomplete)