Indian bowlers make impressive start to Australia tour

The Indians made an impressive start to their tour of Australia, bowling out Cricket Australia (CA) XI for 219 runs in their first tour match at the Gilderol Stadium here Monday.

Each of the frontline bowlers picked up wickets for the Indians to dismiss the hosts for a small total. Indians then made a sound start, reaching 55/1 at stumps on the first day of the two-day match.

Fast bowler Varun Aaron was the most successful among the bowlers, claiming three top-order wickets. Seamers Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Mohammad Shami, and uncapped legspinner Karn Sharma took two each, while spinner Ravichandran Ashwin managed one.

The CA XI were dismissed in 71.5 overs, and in reply, the Indians lost opener Shikhar Dhawan (10) cheaply in the 16 overs they batted before stumps.

CA XI chose to bat on a lively pitch and got jolted in the very first over losing Matthew Short (0) to Bhuvneshwar. The home team recovered through a half-century stand between Ashton Turner (29) and Ryan Carters (58). But Aaron then struck twice in three balls to assert the touring team's supremacy.

CA XI had another half-century stand for the fourth wicket after lunch, between Carters and Kelvin Smith (40). But once Smith got out to Ashwin with the score on 126, their batting fell through.

They could have been bowled out for a far lesser score, having been reduced to 167/9, but for Harry Nielsen's defiant knock (43), putting on 52 for the last wicket with Harry Conway (7).

Dhawan lasted only 20 balls in the Indians' innings. M. Vijay and Cheteshwar Pujara were at the crease at stumps.