There was no more fitting a setting for Dimitri Mascarenhas to take his first one-day international wicket than a Rose Bowl filled to capacity.
The Hampshire beneficiary put the disappointment of the Friends Provident Trophy final defeat against Durham firmly behind him when India captain Rahul Dravid gloved an attempted sweep to Matthew Prior, the England wicketkeeper.
It helped England to an emphatic 104-run win in the opening game of the NatWest Series.
After Ian Bell (126*) and Alastair Cook (102) both struck their maiden one-day international centuries in England's 288, James Anderson recorded a career-best 4-23 as India were dismissed for 184.
Mascarenhas played his part by bowling his ten overs off the reel before contributing a run out.
Dravid's was a vital and prestigious wicket and one that should be remembered as a future pub quiz answer in years to come.
One-day wickets for Mascarenhas at the Rose Bowl are not uncommon - no player has taken more than his 73 in 54 games for Hampshire at West End.
But there are not many more accomplished batsmen than The Wall.
Mascarenhas simply did what he does week in, week out for Hampshire. He is especially effective on home turf but had never played in front of a Rose Bowl crowd as big as the 20,000 crammed in last night, when the ovation he received from his fan club in the north-west corner was even greater than when he is in action for the Hampshire Hawks.
For full story see today's Daily Echo.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article