IN a pulsating international basketball match at the University of Worcester last night, the hosts England nearly pulled off a huge shock when they entertained Lithuania in the first of two games.

The visitors, who have finished in the top four in each of the last five Olympic Games, fielded a strong squad of home-based and European players.

Their English counterparts added guard Justin Robinson and forward Matthew Bryan-Amaning to the team that recently beat Scotland.

Stand-out player for the Lithuanians was 7ft 3ins centre Martynas Andriuskevicius who currently plays in Spain.

But it was another player assigned to a Spanish club, Renaldas Seibutis, who finished the game as the leading scorer with 29 points.

The hall was absolutely packed with fervent supporters of both sides as the game started and Lithuania, being watched by their ambassador who had travelled from London for the match, immediately slotted two field goals in their first two attacks.

English captain Jason Jones then replied with a three-pointer from the corner as the sides traded baskets to see the contest level at 15 each after seven minutes.

England then went on a 6-0 burst inspired by Ashley Hamilton who finished on 15 points, the same as Robinson.

This proved to be the largest lead held by England during the night and the advantage was trimmed to 22-19 as the quarter ended.

The highly competitive game was proving to be much closer than was expected but the Lithuanians really got their defence working at the start of the second quarter and, after the first five minutes, they had allowed England to score only three free throws.

In addition, the hosts had also conceded five fouls quickly so it gave the visitors a golden chance to forge ahead.

However, some well-organised and combative defence of their own from coach Paul James' team ensured the game was evenly poised at 43-42 when the half-time buzzer went.

The third quarter started in the same manner as the second with England struggling to find the basket from open play but Tanner Adu, recently signed by Plymouth Raiders, was playing well on his way to 13 points.

The English team only managed three succesful three-pointers all night from 19 attempts but held their illustrious opponents to just six from 17.

As the penultimate quarter went on, it remained close with even the Newcastle Eagles coach Fabulous Flornay, at the game as a spectator, on his feet urging the home team on.

Lithuania looked as if they were going to win comfortably as they had taken a nine-point lead with just three minutes to go at 73-64.

But a memorable dunk from Bryan–Amaning, a three from Jones and field goals from Ogo Adegboye and Justin Robinson saw the game level with just seconds remaining.

One of the biggest victories ever for English basketball looked a distinct possibility but the Lithuanians scored the last five points of the game to win it 78 -73.