Aussie bats look hot against BP XI in http://www.senore.com/Cricket/India-c750 warm-up
The three-day match between the Board President’s XI and Australia ended in a tame draw at the Sector 16 stadium in Chandigarh but not before the Aussies had taken a huge lead over their opposition. This
is the only warm-up game that Australia play before taking on the Indian team in the first Test match at Mohali.
The Aussies had won the toss and decided to bat first. In the first innings, the opening pair of Simon Katich and Shane Watson scored centuries before Marcus North followed it up with a century off his own
bat. The Aussies batted long into the second day to pile up a score of 505/8 before declaring their innings closed.
In reply, the Board President’s XI had an awful start to their innings, as they lost http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Shikhar-Dhawan-c90019, Cheteshwar Pujara and Saurabh
Tiwary also followed the two and the BP XI side were 53/5.
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Piyush-c82317 Chawla showed some resistance with a fine innings of 82, but the rest of the side capitulated to a five-wicket by Ben Hilfenhaus and the side folded for 177.
Australia opened with http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Clarke-c51120 scored 23, Nathan Hauritz made 25 while Steven Smith had a 19 to his name, but
the main contribution came from the bat of Watson who made his second century of the game – an unbeaten 104.
The Board President’s XI were left with an impossible target of more than 500 runs off 36 overs, but that also gave the Aussie bowlers another opportunity to run into the weak Indian line-up. What was a pleasant
surprise was that the opening pair of Pujara and Rahane started off well without losing a wicket, and then opened their shoulders to add 174 for the first wicket without getting separated. Rahane slammed a century while Pujara remained unbeaten on 52.
Rahane’s 113 came off only 111 balls, and while the first innings performance will please the Australian captain Ponting, their inability to get the quick wickets on the third day could be a worry. Mitchell
Johnson had two wickets in the first innings, but went for 52 off his nine in the second, while the spinners were easily taken for runs.
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Australia-c746 have won only one Test series in India since 1969, and will be gunning to go into the Ashes with some confidence.
Tags: