India vs Cricket Australia XI, Highlights: Four Fifties Light Up India's Drawn Tour Match
Murali Vijay, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli and Wriddhiman Saha slap half-centuries as India finish practice match on 363/8 against Cricket Australia's 219.
In a show of strength, Indian batsmen helped themselves to fine fifties as the tourists got valuable practice in the middle against Cricket Australia XI. Following are the highlights from Day 2 of the drawn tour match.
© AP
Replying to Cricket Australia XI's 219, India were 55 for the loss of Shikhar Dhawan's wicket at stumps on Monday. Murali Vijay, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli and Wridddhiman Saha each scored a fifty to guide India to 363/8 and a drawn match. Following are the highlights from Tuesday's play.
* End of match! India finish the practice game on 363/8. With as many as four fifties in the innings, this has been a good show of strength by the visitors although the task may be a lot harder against the highly-skilled national team.
*Out! Ashwin falls, India now eight men down. Remember, 11 batsman can bat here.
* Fifty for Saha! Another half century from yet another Indian batsman here.
* Out! Kohli falls after a well-made 60. It was a patient knock which took him 114 deliveries to construct. India 267/7.
* News flash: South Australia batsman Phil Hughes struck on the head by a bouncer during a Sheffield Game. He is believed to be in a serious condition. (Read report here)
* Out! Raina falls to Jonte Pattison's spin. He was looking good to play the long knock but misses his half century by six runs. Wriddhiman Saha next up. India 233/6.
* Fifty for Kohli! India captain has played a mature knock against both pace and spin today. Not looking to attack blindly, he has hit seven fours in his innings and has a determined aura around him all day.
* India go past Cricket Australia's 1st innings score with considerable ease. Kohli and Raina getting valuable practice here.
* Raina doing bulk of the batting and is looking good while doing it. Since he replaced Rohit, the left-handed batsman has helped himself to four fours and a six as well. He is batting on 28 off 36. India 210/5.
* Captain Virat Kohli has slammed five boundaries in his innings of 65-ball 36. He is in the middle with Suresh Raina.
* Out! Rohit Sharma is removed by pacer Josh Lalor for 23, at the stroke of lunch. Despite hitting four shots to the boundary and looking set for more, Rohit is trapped LBW. India 178/5
* Out! Ajinkya Rahane fails and is removed on 1 by 16-year-old spinner Sam Grimwade. He looked to drive away from the body but it did not come out as planned for the Mumbai batsman. India 131/4.
* Vijay and Pujara have retired which means Virat and Rahane will get to bat now.
* Both Murali Vijay and Cheteshwar Pujara hit fifties to propel India's innings. A good start to Tuesday morning for the visitors.
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On Monday, fast bowler Varun Aaron was impressive with three-wicket haul. Aaron (3/72), Bhuvneshwar Kumar (2/32) and Mohammed Shami (2/52) restricted the home team to 219 all out in 71.5 overs. Spinners Karn Sharma and Ravichandran Ashwin were also among wickets with 2/30 and 1/22, respectively.
India will aim to bat as much as possible to adjust to conditions before the first Test in Brisbane from December 4. The Indians have not played Test cricket in a long time, their last series being a 5-match ODI contest with Sri Lanka at home. Kohli's men will play one more two-day game ahead of the Gabba game.