India’s explosive opener Virender Sehwag (113) roared back with a swaggering century knock to stake his claim for Perth’s Test berth with wicketkeeper batsman Dinesh Karthik (97), who missed out a century, also regained his lost touch as Indians drew their three-day practice match with Australian Capital Territory (ACT) Invitational XI played at the Manuka Oval here on Saturday.
The only batsman who disappointed again as he is going through purple patch was Yuvraj Singh. Yuvraj made matters worse and himself created chances for Sehwag. His chances of playing in the third Test looks too slim as he could only manage four runs in the second innings also.
Sehwag hasn’t played a Test for over a year although he has scored 12 Test hundreds and holds the record of highest score by any Indian of 309.
The pair of Sehwag and Karthik played a totally contrasting innings in their second outing as Sehwag came up with a 78-ball 113 knock while Karthik made a serene 97 in the second innings helping India made 281 for four in the second innings and set a target of 315 for the ACT XI, who batted for 17 overs in the final session before settling for a draw.
Sehwag and Karthik added 158 for the opening stand. Sehwag went berserk over the bowlers and hammered 18 fours and two sixes on the way to his 113. He punished left-arm seamer Ash Perera in his very first over by hitting three fours and was lucky to get a let off on 16, when Richard Sherlock failed to take a regulation catch at square leg.
After getting an opportunity, Sehwag never looked back and made the most of the luck to complete his century. On the other hand Karthik hold the other end calmly and was playing as second fiddle during Sehwag's blistering innings.
Karthik too got a lifer on 19 as wicketkeeper James Crosthwaite dropped him off Bulger’s bowling. But much to Karthik’s dismay that he fell three runs short of his hundred after he was trapped LBW by Bulger.
“I think that I will be playing in Perth now. I have played there earlier and it’s a pitch with good bounce. Batsmen can go for shots there," Sehwag said after the match.
India first innings: 325-9 dec (W.Jaffer 92, R.Dravid 62)
ACT first innings: 292-8 dec (J.Rogers 98, C.Rogers 60)
India second innings
D.Karthik lbw b Bulger 97
V.Sehwag c Crosthwaite b Higgs 113
W.Jaffer c Crosthwaite b Bulger 21
Y.Singh c Dean b Ritchard 3
R.Dravid not out 16
I.Pathan not out 18
Extras: (b-3 lb-2 nb-8) 13
Total: (for four wickets declared, 58 overs) 281
Did not bat: M.Dhoni, H.Singh, RP Singh, P.Singh, V.Singh, I.Sharma
FoW: 1-158 2-238 3-241 5-248
Bowling: Perera 12-3-46-1 (nb-1), Swards 13-3-35-0, Sherlock
2-0-23-0, Bulger 24-2-120-2 (nb-7), Ritchard 5-0-47-0, Higgs
2-0-5-1
ACT second innings
E.Cowan c Sehwag b Pankaj Singh 7
C.Rogers c Karthik b Pathan 17
J.Dean lbw b Pankaj Singh 0
M.Higgs not out 14
J.Rogers not out 9
Extras: (lb-6 w-6 nb-1) 13
Total: (for three wickets, 17 overs) 60
Did not bat: R.Starr, J.Crosthwaite, A.Ritchard, A.Perera,R.Sherlock, L.Swards, R.Bulger
FoW: 1-18 2-35 3-35
Bowling: Pankaj Singh 5-1-21-2 (w-2), I.Pathan 4-1-16-1,V.Singh 4-1-10-0 (nb-1), I.Sharma 4-1-7-0
Result: Match drawn
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