The two-day warm-up match between Board President XI and Australia at the India Cement Limited Guru Nanak College Ground in Chennai ended in a draw.
Opting to bat first the Matthew Wade-led team scored 241, before being bowled. The visitors got off to a good start with Ed Cowan and Usman Khawaja putting together 77 runs, before the latter was sent back by Sarabjit Ladda. And a while later Cowan was removed by Parvez Rasool for 58. Skipper Wade was the next to be dismissed, 58 runs later, by the off-spinner. The departure of Wade triggered a batting collapse. With the exception of No.4 bat Steven Smith, who added 41 runs, the visitors’ line-up returned to the hut without any substantial contributions. Rasool claimed seven wickets during the innings.
In response, the Board President XI were bowled out for 230 earlier on the second day. Middle-order bat Ambati Rayudu, fresh from a century against Mumbai in the Irani Cup, held up one end and made a valiant 87. However, he could not find an able ally at the other end. Rasool was the second-highest run-scorer for the home side with 36. Moises Henriques picked four wickets, while Nathan Lyon claimed three scalps.
When the match ended today, the Australians were 15 without loss in their second innings.
Brief scores: Australians 1st innings 241 all out in 88.3 overs (E Cowan 58, P Rasool 7/45); BP XI 1st innings 230 all out in 68.3 (A Rayudu 87, M Henriques 4/12); Australians 2nd innings 15/0
