IBP XI v AUS, Warm-up match, Review: Australia batsmen set up for the runfest in the ODI series

Australia played their only warm-up game on the tour against Indian Board President’s XI at MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. They won the match comfortably by 103 runs but more importantly, they achieved the goal as most of their batsmen got the feel of the conditions. The bowlers too looked on their mark and bowled out the opposition without letting most of their batsmen settle in.

Australia skipper Steve Smith won the toss in a day game and opted to bat first. In the absence of Aaron Finch, Hilton Cartwright opened the innings along with David Warner. But the visitors were rocked early as Avesh Khan scalped the former in his first over. What followed was a familiar sight for Indians, as Smith and Warner pummelling the bowlers on a flat track.

Both of them completed their half centuries after which Kushang Patel dismissed Warner on 64 off just 48 deliveries. His innings comprised of 11 fours. Spinners took over and strangled the batsmen as Smith followed Warner in 23rd over as his Pune teammate Washington Sundar sent him back to the pavilion. Australia were 134/3 after 23 overs and the young locals were fighting admirably well.

Sundar continued to spin a web around the visitors as Maxwell failed to make any impact and walked back for mere 14 runs as he offered a simple caught and bowled chance to the bowler. Then Marcus Stoinis and Travis Head came together and thumped all the bowlers adding 90 runs in quick time. Stoinis kept hitting the ball out of the park as Australia scored 101 in last 10 overs to post a huge total of 347/7 in 50 overs.

The run chase

Shreevats Goswami and the IPL sensation Rahul Tripathi opened the innings in the chase but the latter was sent back early by Kane Richardson. Mayank Agarwal and Goswami fought back and added 79 for the second wicket as both were dismissed in quick succession to stutter the chase. Young batsmen succumbed under pressure as Nitish Rana, another IPL star, was run-out and the skipper Gurkeerat Singh was the bunny of an impressive Ashton Agar.

Board President’s XI collapsed to 156/8 after 34 overs and the game looked over but Akshay Karnewar and Kushang put on a spirited stand of 66 runs for the ninth wicket and frustrated the Aussies. The former launched an assault on the Aussie bowlers as he scored 40 runs off just 28 balls with 2 fours and 4 sixes. Eventually, they were bowled out for 244 in the 49th over.

For Australia, Ashton Agar impressed with the bowl as he picked 4/44 in his 8.1 overs and strengthened his case to lead the spin attack in the first ODI ahead of Adam Zampa. Nathan Coulter Nile was nippy and accurate with his line and length as he conceded only 16 off his 7 overs. For the Board XI, Washington Sundar impressed with the ball as his figures read 2/23 in 8 overs. None of the batsmen could breach the 50-run mark as four of them scored the 40s and looked impressive.

Australia must feel relaxed after a decent outing and should have got an idea of the wickets to follow in the series. If we go by this game, the series will be surely filled with runs like in 2013 and fans should brace themselves for the mouth watering contests. On the other hand, the youngsters of India must have learned the hard lessons of the International arena.

Brief Scores

Australia: 347/7 after 50 overs (M Stoinis 76, T Head 65); (W Sundar 2/23, K Patel 2/58)

IBP XI: 244/10 after 48.2 overs ( S Goswami 43, M Agarwal 42); (A Agar 4/44, K Richardson 2/36)