India Vs Australia Tour Match – Spinners Threat Batsmen

The slow bowlers from both side dominated the proceedings by grabbing 11 out of 17 wickets which fell in two days and the batsmen found it hard to tackle with them. The Indians were bowled out in their first innings on 269 runs in 79.1 overs. Cricket Australia Chairman’s XI, responded with 214 for the loss of seven wickets at the close of the second day’s play.

Virat Kohli scored century in the warm up match against Australia
Virat Kohli scored century in the warm up match against Australia

The three day tour match is being played at Manuka Oval, Canberra, from 19, 20 and 21 December, 2011.
Earlier Indians Captain MS Dhoni won the toss on the first day and elected to bat for providing ample practice to the batsmen before the first Test.

Their star opener Virender Sehwag could not open his arm and lost his wicket at 12 runs when the score board reflected 20 runs. Gautam Ghambir and Ajinkya Rahane added 32 runs for the second wicket before the later was gone at 15 and just one run later Ghambir made his way to the pavilion for 24runs.

The promising Virat Kohli and the experienced VVS Laxman joined together and tried to establish the innings. Laxman became the first victim of the left arm spinner Jon Holland as the visitors lost their fourth wicket at 84 runs and that was the time for another youngster Rohit Sharma to show his talent.

Both of them played absorbing cricket and dispatched the lose ball to the boundaries and counter ordered the bowlers at their will.

The duo shared 101 runs partnership for the fifth wicket when Sharma could not continue and lost his wicket at 47 runs. Kohli warned the Australians about his intentions for the forthcoming series by smashing an adventurous century in the process.

He was the only batsman who played a brave innings as Holland took over and penetrated through the Indian batting line up. Kohli thrashed 132 runs which comprised two sixes and 18 well timed fours as the whole team was bowled out for 269 runs.

Holland was the star performer for the hosts with six wickets, Peter George struck twice as Jason Behrendorff and Josh Lalor claimed one wicket each.

CA Chairman’s XI, had a dreadful start when their Captain David Warner was clean bowled by Abhimanyu Mithun for just two runs. Ed Cowan and Usman Khawaja saw through the opening burst of fast bowling and added 76 runs for the second wicket. Khawaja was caught at the wicket by Dhoni off Umesh Yadav after scoring 25 runs.

The second wicket was lost at 79 runs when Phillip Hughes joined in with Cowan and tried to gear up but Ravichandran Ashwin got him at 20 runs. Tom Cooper gave admirable support to Cowan and consolidated the innings while securing one end.

Cowan went on to score a brilliant century before Ashwin made his presence felt in the game by snatching his wicket at 109 runs.

CA Chairman’s XI was restricted to 214 runs when they were left with three wickets and they were still 55 runs behind the Indians.

Ashwin was the highest wicket taker with four, Pragyan Ojha, Mithun and Umesh Yadav chipped in with one wicket each.

The second tour match is an eye opener for the visitors as none of their seasoned batsman was able to negotiate the rival bowling and especially 24-year-old spinner Holland was unplayable. They have to come up with a better show in the second innings before they face the music in the first Test against Australia on the Boxing Day at Melbourne Cricket Ground.


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