ADELAIDE: Indian batsmen got some much-needed workout ahead of the Test series against Australia as they put up 375 runs in 90 overs before their two-day tour game against Cricket Australia XI ended in a draw at the Glenelg Oval here today.
After notching up 375 runs in their first innings, the visitors reduced the hosts to 83/5 in 21 overs in their second innings before play was called off.
The morning started with India on their overnight score at 99/2. Stand-in skipper Virat Kohli and opener Murali Vijay were at the crease, looking to carry on their 63-run stand for the third wicket.
They batted the whole morning away and stretched their partnership to 123 runs. Both batsmen went on to score fine half-centuries, making good use of the lives they were granted last evening when on 0 and 5 respectively.
Both Kohli and Vijay retired after their fifties, the former first to go at the end of the 43rd over of the innings, after scoring 66 runs off 94 balls (10 fours).
Vijay walked off two overs later, after scoring 60 runs off 136 balls (10 fours).
It brought Rohit Sharma and Ajinkya Rahane to the crease, and they batted fluently, especially the latter who looked comfortable against both pace and spin. Sharma too opened up against the slower bowlers as they put on 103 runs for the fifth wicket.
Rahane retired after scoring 56 runs off only 64 balls (7 fours) while Sharma was involved in a mix-up with Wriddhiman Saha and was run-out. He scored 48 runs off 73 balls, with five fours and a couple of sixes.
Saha then paired up with Suresh Raina (20) and looked to score some quick runs. But the latter was unable to find comfort in the middle and was caught at second slip off skipper Ashton Turner (1-40). Saha went on to score 51 runs off 67 balls (8 fours), with Ravindra Jadeja (23) too spending some time in the middle. Saha was the last man out in the 90th over. For Cricket Australia XI, Josh Lalor picked up 4-59 in 17 overs.
The Indian team management then opted to bowl 24 overs in the day calling off the match before the final hour of play.
But they only bowled 21 off those, choosing to play football afterwards instead.
Umesh Yadav (1-30) and Varun Aaron (1-28) looked sharp in their short spells, bowling with pace, but were a touch on the expensive side.
Ishant Sharma (2-8) picked up two late wickets in his five overs. Karn Sharma (1-16) too added one to his kitty before play was called off.
The first Test of the four-match series begins in Adelaide on Tuesday. The series’ schedule had to be reworked after the tragic death of batsman Phillip Hughes, who passed away after being hit by a bouncer last week.–PTI
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