Indian bowlers in fine form in second practice match

Adelaide, Dec 4: 

Pacer Varun Aaron powered India’s bowling charge, picking four wickets here Thursday, to bowl out Cricket Australia XI for 243 runs in Day 1 of their final two-day tour game before the four-Test series against Australia.

In reply, Indians were 99/2 at stumps with Murali Vijay (39) and skipper Virat Kohli (30) at the crease at the Gliderol Stadium here.

The match started with the two sides observing a minute’s silence before play and wore black armbands after India’s second tour game at the Adelaide Oval last week was cancelled following the shock death of batsman Phillip Hughes. The first Test starts at the Adelaide Oval Dec 9.

Aaron was handed new-ball responsibilities and struck in the second over, cleaning up Ashton Turner for a duck in the second over.

The hosts then collapsed to 34/3, losing three of their four frontline batsman. Jordan Silk and Alex Keath (19) put on a stand worth 71 runs before Aaron broke it, forcing an edge of Silk’s bat for 58.

Aaron finished with figures of four wickets for 41 runs from 14.3 overs while his new-ball partner Mohammed Shami claimed two wickets in his opening spell, removing Ryan Carters (1) and Matthew Short (19).

In reply Indians lost opener Shikhar Dhawan for nought and one-down batsman Cheteshwar Pujara (22) cheaply to be pegged back at 36/2, but Vijay and Kohli steadied the ship to steer the tourists to a comfortable position at the end of the day’s play.

Brief Scores: Cricket Australia XI: 243 (Jordan Silk 58, Varun Aaron 4/41)
Indians: 99/2 (Josh Lalor 2/18, Murali Viay 39 not out). (IANS)