The Hindu : Sport / Cricket : Laxman makes most of practice match

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Jun 02, 2006

Sport

Sport - Cricket

Laxman makes most of practice match

Special Correspondent

St. John's: V.V.S. Laxman, M.S. Dhoni, Mohammad Kaif, and Wasim Jaffer struck half-centuries as India's two-day practice match against Antigua and Barbuda here at the Police Recreation Ground petered out to a draw.

The visiting side was on 311 for nine from 96 overs when play was called off. Dhoni made an unbeaten, bustling, 78-ball 60 with eight fours and a whipped six over long-on. Harbhajan Singh, on seven, was the other not out batsman.

Earlier, V.V.S. Laxman and Mohammad Kaif put on 98 runs in 207 balls for the fourth wicket before the former fell, trying to work the off-spin of Athanaze, who finished with three wickets, to mid-wicket and spooning a catch. Kaif walked off as well, retired out, and the spectators were treated to the unusual sight of two batsmen (Raina and Yuvraj) replacing two others.

Laxman (72, 122b, 9x4) was cautious, utilising any poor balls that came his way. He began the day by gliding the first delivery to the boundary, and played a couple of attractive square drives. Kaif's 53 contained five fours and two sixes — 32 runs from seven balls. The other 21 took 120 balls.

Jaffer cover-drove, pulled, and flicked Adam Sanford for fours before being run out for 52 (108m, 87b, 8x4). Dravid (5), Yuvraj (20), and Raina (4) missed out on batting practice.

Brief scores: Antigua and Barbuda 300 in 72.2 overs vs India 311 for nine in 96 overs (Wasim Jaffer 52, V.V.S. Laxman 72., M. Kaif 53, M.S. Dhoni 60 n.o.).

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