Images: Virat, Rohit shine in win over Sussex

After humiliating defeats in the Test series, which they lost 0-4, India registered their first victory on their tour of England on Thursday.

The tourists, propelled by half-centuries by Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, beat Sussex by six wickets in a rain-affected practice game at Hove.

The two youngsters put on 104 runs for the third wicket as the Indians chased down the 235-run target with 4.1 overs to spare, after the game was reduced to a 45-over-a side affair following to two rain interruptions.

Put into bat, Sussex were 236 all out. Seamer R P Singh claimed four wickets. But the Indians needed 235 to win following the revised target under the Duckworth-Lewis system.

They looked in control, even though Sachin Tendulkar (21) was out early, as the other opener Parthiv Patel (55), Kohli (71) and Sharma (61 not out) took command over the home attack.

Kohli's 71 came off 83 balls and included six fours and a six. Sharma's unbeaten 61 was off 65 balls and studded with eight fours and a six.

Tendullkar played some gorgeous strokes before he spooned a catch at mid-off against left-arm paceman Chris Liddle. As many as four fours were hit by Tendulkar in his brief 17-ball knock.

Patel was similarly aggressive, relying a great deal on chipped shots behind square before he played back to off-spinner Chris Nash and missed the line completely. He scored 55 from 65 balls and slammed nine fours.

Despite the victory, the tourists will be concerned about Suresh Raina's poor form.

Left-hander Raina, who had a miserable presence at the crease during the Tests, came in to bat with only token runs required by the visitors for a win.

He survived a near-catch at the square leg ropes and was bowled off the next ball for a personal score of 12.

Earlier, RP Singh took four for 44 but two of his wickets came in the final over when batsmen were attempting to slog and the first two when the conditions were overtly favourable to swing bowling under overcast conditions.

Praveen Kumar was a heartening return after his ankle injury which forced him to miss out on the final Test at the Oval last week. He bowled his eight overs for 28 runs and picked a wicket.

Munaf Patel was disappointing and conceded 52 runs from his seven overs for a wicket and generally was slogged around the park.

The two spinners, leg-spinner Amit Mishra and off-spinner Ravichandra Ashwin bowled economically without appearing threatening at any stage.

Young Joe Gatting, nephew of former England captain Mike Gatting, came in at No 4 after Sussex lost two early wickets, and treated the Indian bowlers with disdain.

The introduction spinners Amit Mishra and Ravichandran Ashwin, in the 15th and 18th over, paid dividends for the Indians, as Gatting, attempting a forceful shot, was bowled for 46, which came off only 48 balls, and included six fours and a six.

Sussex had a good partnership for the fourth wicket in the form of left-hander Matt Machan (56) and right-hander Brown (48) who put on 65 runs for the fourth wicket.

Machan, 56 off 62 balls, showed good energy between the wickets even though he hit no more than five fours. He was dismissed after he offered a return chance to Suresh Raina.