Aussies avoid early loss

Indians draw first blood in tour match

Last updated: 5th October 2008

Aussies avoid early loss

Ponting accepts a draw

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Tour Match
Hyderabad
Board President's XI 455 (R Sharma 105, V Kohli 105, P Patel 62, I Pathan 56, M Johnson 4-75, S Clark 3-67) & 292-4 dec (Yuvraj Singh 113, W Jaffer 93) v Australia 314 (M Hussey 126, P Chawla 5-89, P Ojha 3-72) & 127-2 (R Ponting 58 not out)
Match drawn

Yuvraj Singh and Wasim Jaffer piled on the runs while Ricky Ponting also enjoyed some time in the middle as Australia's opening tour match against the Board President's XI was drawn on Sunday.

Yuvraj and Wasim, both omitted from the India squad for the first two Tests, gave the selectors a nudge with a 200-run partnership - Yuvraj making 113 while the latter fell seven runs short of a century.

Left-handed Yuvraj was in typically belligerent mood, smashing seven maximums and as many boundaries before declaring his side's second innings on 292-4 just after lunch on the final day, setting the tourists 434 to win in just 53 overs.

Aussie openers Simon Katich and Matt Hayden both fell cheaply for the second time in the match but Ponting, who scored 41 in the first innings, made 58 not out while vice-captain Michael Clarke was also undefeated on 36 as the tourists closed on 127-2.

It is a pleasing start on a personal level for Ponting, who averages just 12 in eight previous Tests in India, although he will disappointed that his bowlers made little impact in the game.

Spinner Jason Krezja, who had looked poised to make his debut in the first Test starting on Thursday, sent down 31 overs wicketless - and costly - overs while only seamer Stuart Clark looked threatening with three wickets in each innings.

Yuvraj admitted the tourists lacked penetration and felt they could struggle without a quality slow bowler in the upcoming four-match series.

"Australia will definitely miss a quality spinner in the series," said Yuvraj. "Shane Warne is not there now, so the fast bowlers have a real tough job on their hands.

"But it would be foolish to underestimate the Aussies. They always have a plan and will prove to be formidable opponents."