India lost two early wickets in its search for valuable batting practice on Thursday ahead of next week’s opening Test against Australia.
The tourists reached 99 for two at close on the opening day of its two-day match in reply to Cricket Australia XI’s 243 at Gliderol Stadium in Adelaide.
Murali Vijay, dropped on five, was unbeaten on 39 and stand-in skipper Virat Kohli, put down off the first ball he faced, was not out on 30.
The Indians put their bats out against the picket fence at the Adelaide ground and both teams observed a minute’s silence before the start of Thursday’s game.
Players and umpires wore black armbands.
The Indians restricted the CA XI with Varun Aaron and Mohammed Shami both proving a handful, especially with the new ball as the hosts collapsed to 34 for three.
Aaron claimed four for 41 and leg-spinner Karn Sharma took three for 57.
But their efforts were undermined by an underwhelming batting response with India recovering from 36 for two to reach stumps at 99 for two.
The scores:
CA XI —1st innings: R. Carters c Dhawan b Shami 1, J. Silk c Raina b Aaron 58, A. Turner b Aaron 0, M. Short c Saha b Shami 19, A. Keath c Pujara b Karn Sharma 19, J. Doran c Kohli b Karn Sharma 25, S. Gotch (not out) 58, E. Gulbis b Aaron 1, J. Lalor c Shami b Jadeja 21, J. Pattison c Yadav b Karn Sharma 16, S. Rainbird c Raina b Aaron 4; Extras (b-3, w-9, pen-9): 21; Total (in 68.3 overs): 243.
Fall of wickets: 1-2, 2-26, 3-34, 4-105, 5-111, 6-158, 7-159, 8-197, 9-227.
Indians bowling: Shami 12-0-37-2, Aaron 14.3-2-41-4, Umesh 12-2-47-0, Ishant 11-2-37-0, Karn 13-2-57-3, Jadeja 6-2-12-1.
Indians—1st innings: M. Vijay (batting) 39, S. Dhawan c Pattison b Lalor 0, C. Pujara c Turner b Lalor 22, V. Kohli (batting) 30; Extras (lb-3, nb-5): 8; Total (for two wkts. in 29 overs): 99.
Fall of wickets: 1-1, 2-36.
CA XI bowling: Rainbird 10-1-41-0, Lalor 8-2-18-2, Gulbis 5-2-10-0, Moody 6-1-27-0.
Note: Players per side: 14 (11 batting, 11 fielding). — Agencies
