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India seamers strike early

A. Joseph Antony

Only two hours of play possible on opening day

— Photo: Mohammed Yousuf

ON CLOUD NINE: Sudeep Tyagi is ecstatic after getting rid of Australia ‘A’ skipper Simon Katich.

HYDERABAD: Bowling in overcast conditions, India’s seam trio struck three early blows on a truncated opening day of the second match of the ‘A’ series to restrict Australia to 82 for three at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium here on Tuesday.

Play commenced at 2.35 in the afternoon after overnight rain left much of the outfield soggy, with some covers still in place over certain rough patches, including a full-length mat over an adjacent strip.

Curator Y.L. Chandrasekhar and his team were on the job before the crack of dawn, thanks to which about two hours of play were possible, with the prospect of an hour-long extension.

Four hours lost

However, stumps were drawn over an hour before the rescheduled close of play, due to bad light, with the Indian speedsters still in operation. In all, about four hours were lost due to rain and its aftermath.

An accurate line by Dhawal Kulkarni and R. Vinay Kumar contained the left-handed opening duo of Phillip Hughes and Simon Katich, the first boundary coming from the Australian captain after five overs into the contest.

Dabbing at a Kulkarni delivery leaving him, Hughes was snapped up by Mohd. Kaif at second slip bending low to latch on to the offering.

The Mumbai Indians speedster, after separating the southpaws, claimed the next victim too.

Adam Voges leant forward, his edge pouched comfortably by wicketkeeper Parthiv Patel. Straying down the leg thereafter, Kulkarni was pulled to mid-wicket and patted down to fine leg for two of Katich’s boundaries.

Sudeep Tyagi was still to strike his Bangalore form, the rising ball despatched with a measure of ease by Katich and Voges, the latter’s pull bringing up his side’s 50.

Superb catch

Just when the Australia ‘A’ skipper seemed to be settling down for a long stay at the crease, he swatted Tyagi towards point where Mohnish Parmar showed sharp reflexes to pull off a splendid catch, veering to his left.

Australia went into the match without spinners Beau Casson and Bryce McGain, both sidelined by injury, while Sahil Kukreja came in for Ajinkya Rahane for the home side.

The scores:

Australia ‘A’: P. Hughes c Kaif b Kulkarni 4, S. Katich c Parmar b Tyagi 32, A. Voges c Patel b Kulkarni 11, M. North (batting) 14, G. Bailey (batting) 9; Extras (lb-10, w-2): 12. Total (for three wickets in 23.1 overs): 82.

Fall of wickets: 1-12, 2-56, 3-62.

India ‘A’ bowling: Kulkarni 9-3-22-2, Vinay Kumar 8.1-2-19-0, Tyagi 6-0-31-1.

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