Captain Steve Smith and David Warner inflicted telling blows on the Board President's (BP) XI bowlers; the duo taking full advantage of the wicket's even pace and a scorching fast outfield. Both the batsmen batted with freedom, raising a century stand inside the first 15 overs.
Warner's quickfire 64 off 48 deliveries sewed up the damage done by the early dismissal of Hilton Cartwright, who was caught in the slips off Avesh Khan. The New South Wales' southpaw cut, pulled and drove his way to a half-century before edging one to Shreevats Goswami behind the stumps.
That put a lid on Australia's scoring rate, with only 28 runs being added to the scoreboard before Smith, having scored 55 off 68 deliveries, became Washington Sundar's first victim of the match courtesy a fine catch by BP XI skipper Gurkeerat Mann at square leg.
Sundar also scalped flamboyant middle-order batsman Glenn Maxwell, this time completing an easy catch off his own bowling to reduce Australia to four for 158.
Sundar's two for 23 thwarted Australia's surge briefly before Marcus Stoinis and Travis Head counter-attacked with an 88-run stand. However, the teenage sensation didn't bowl his full quota of 10 overs.
Head scored a brisk half-century, but eventually fell to left-arm spinner Akshay Karnewar. Stoinis though took a liking to Karnewar — who went for almost 10 runs an over — and blasted three sixes off his bowling en route to an aggressive76 off 60 balls.
With this knock, the 28-year-old has now boosted his chances ahead of Sunday's first ODI against host India at the same venue.
At the other end, wicket-keeper batsman Matthew Wade struck form as he took Avesh Khan to the cleaners, blasting 19 runs off the 47th over to help Australia notch up its triple hundred. The left-hander thrashed 45 in double quick time but was out bowled trying to up the ante.
Australia plundered 101 runs in the last ten overs to set BP XI a steep target.
Comments
SHARE