Ponting fails in first warm-up match in India
© Cricket Nirvana
Saturday, September 27, 2008 4:45:02 PM
Jaipur: Australian captain Ricky Ponting's nightmares in India continued, as he was dismissed for five in his team's first warm-up match against the Rajasthan Cricket Association XI (RCA) in Jaipur.
Australia, who are in India to compete in a four-Test series for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, are currently in the Pink city, where they are trying to get acclimatised to Indian conditions. The first warm-up tie on the tour against a Rajasthan Cricket Association XI (RCA) got underway on Saturday, with the visitors winning the toss and opting to bat first.
Ponting, who averages 12.29 from eight Test matches in India, was dismissed by slow left arm spinner Gajendra Singh for five. His deputy, Michael Clarke too failed, as he was dismissed for two.
Opener Matthew Hayden, who is making a comeback after missing the tour of the Caribbean earlier this year, batted for 80 minutes for his 16. Only Simon Katich, who also opened the innings, and who was part of the Australia 'A' team which took on India 'A' in two unofficial Test matches earlier this month, managed a respectable score; he made 73 off 105 balls, which included ten hits to the fence.
Allrounder Shane Watson made a patient 30, which came off 61 balls, while wicketkeeper Brad Haddin made a 61-ball 21.
Jason Krejza (19 from 60 balls) and Mitchell Johnson (24 from 41 balls) were the other Australians to get into double figures.
For the hosts, Gajendra Singh, who dismissed Ponting, was the pick of the Rajasthan bowlers, as he returned with 5 for 58 from 22.1 overs. The Australians were bowled out for 218 in 77.1 overs.
They then struck back strongly through Brett Lee and Stuart Clark, who bagged a wicket in their first overs; Lee dismissed opener S Vijay with the first ball of the innings, while Clark saw the back of Vineet Saxena off the third delivery he bowled. The hosts finished at 38 for 2 from 11 overs.
Sunday is the final day of the match, and the Aussies will be hoping to wrap up the RCA innings quickly, before taking the opportunity to bat for a second time.
For the hosts, Gajendra Singh, who dismissed Ponting, was the pick of the Rajasthan bowlers, as he returned with 5 for 58 from 22.1 overs. The Australians were bowled out for 218 in 77.1 overs.
They then struck back strongly through Brett Lee and Stuart Clark, who bagged a wicket in their first overs; Lee dismissed opener S Vijay with the first ball of the innings, while Clark saw the back of Vineet Saxena off the third delivery he bowled. The hosts finished at 38 for 2 from 11 overs.
Sunday is the final day of the match, and the Aussies will be hoping to wrap up the RCA innings quickly, before taking the opportunity to bat for a second time.
