TRELAWNY (JAMAICA): Skipper Rahul Dravid and Sachin Tendulkar etched out impressive half-centuries as India posted 300 for 9 ninein its first practice game against the Netherlands here on Tuesday.

Dravid and Tendulkar batted sensibly to add 116 runs for the fourth wicket to set the platform for a big total after the top order squandered a good start.

Tendulkar's run-a ball innings was attractive as he punished the inexperienced Dutch bowlers, belting five fours and two sixes in his knock of 61.

Dravid, who provided solid support to Tendulkar, attacked after reaching his half-century and emerged as the highest scorer. His 74 came off 92 balls and was studded with five boundaries and two sixes.

Earlier, after being put in to bat, Indian openers Virender Sehwag and Sourav Ganguly took advantage of the soft attack of their opponents and scored 60 runs for the first wicket.

However, slow medium bowler ten Doeschate brought back the minnows into the match by delivering a double blow and scalping Ganguly (19) and Sehwag (28) in two successive overs. The Dutch bowler eventually returned the performance of his life by capturing five wickets for 57 runs.

Clarke scores 82

In another match, Michael Clarke's 82 was the centrepiece of Australia's 290 for seven in its opening warm-up match against Zimbabwe at St. Vincent.

Makeshift openers Shane Watson (81) and Brad Haddin (47) were the other major contributors.

At Bridgetown, Bangladesh bowled out New Zealand for just 224 in 45 overs. Jacob Oram (88) and Brendon McCullum (46) were the only significant contributors for the Kiwis. For Bangladesh, left-arm spinner Abdur Razzak took four wickets while medium pace bowler Mashrafe Mortaza took three.

At St. Augustine (Trinidad), Pakistan scored 273 for eight in 48 overs against Canada with significant contributions coming from Mohammad Hafeez (61), Inzamam-ul-Haq (59) and Kamran Akmal (56 n.o.).

Minnows routed

In Monday's warm-up games, West Indies, England and South Africa won their matches beating Kenya, Bermuda and Ireland.

At Jamaica, Marlon Samuels and Chris Gayle bludgeoned the Kenyan attack as the West Indies won its warm-up game at Jamaica by 21 runs.

West Indies captain Lara said he was happy with the win over Kenya, but predicted a tougher challenge against India in the team's last warm-up match on Friday.

"We'll be playing a better team, a team where a result will have some sort of psychological advantage," Lara said. "We would like a win in that game and I expect the intensity levels to be raised."

At St. Augustine, Hall took three wickets to go with his unbeaten 67 to help secure a 35-run win over World Cup rookie Ireland.

South Africa-born Andre Botha top-scored with 40 for Ireland.

Bermuda skittled out

At St. Vincent, Bermuda was skittled out for 45 in response to England's 286 for eight with its swing bowler Jon Lewis taking three wickets for just seven runs.

"Most players got something out of the game," said England captain Michael Vaughan, returning from a frustrating hamstring problem. "It was nice to get some of the bowlers four or five overs each."

Scotland was bowled out for 135 in just 41.2 overs in response to Sri Lanka's 294 for seven at the 3Ws Oval in Barbados.

Sri Lanka skipper Mahela Jayawardene said he was satisfied with the performance and was looking forward to doing better against New Zealand on Friday.

"We had a great day and we are pleased with the result," he said. "We still can get better and we will be working on our intensity. There were times when we slackened a bit, so we know what we have to do on Friday."

The scores: India: V. Sehwag b ten Doeschate 28, S. Ganguly c Stelling b ten Doeschate 19, R. Uthappa b Reekers 20, S. Tendulkar c Troost b De Leede 61, R. Dravid c Kervezee b Borren 74, Yuvraj c Kervezee b ten Doeschate 14, M. Dhoni c Reekers b ten Doeschate 21, D. Karthik b Borren 3, I. Pathan (not out) 25, Harbhajan c Troost b ten Doeschate 0, A. Kumble (not out) 2, Extras (b-3, lb-7, nb-12, w-11) 33, Total (for nine wkts. in 50 overs) 300.

Fall of wickets: 1-60, 2-64, 3-82, 4-198, 5-244, 6-248, 7-251, 8-283, 9-284.

Netherlands bowling: Jonkman 5-0-36-0, Reekers 8-1-34-1, ten Doeschate 10-1-57-5, de Leede 10-1-41-1, Stelling 5-0-33-0, Kashif 5-0-44-0, Borren 7-0-45-2.

At St. Augustine (Trinidad): Pakistan 273 for eight (M. Hafeez 61, Inzamam 59, K. Akmal (56 n.o.) vs Canada.

At St. Vincent: Australia 290 for seven in 50 overs (M. Clarke 82, S. Watson 81, B. Haddin 47) vs Zimbabwe.

At Bridgetown (Barbados): New Zealand 224 in 45 overs (J. Oram 88, B. McCullum 46, A. Razzak four for 26, M. Mortaza three for 22) vs Bangladesh.

On Monday: At St. Vincent: England 286 for eight in 50 overs bt Bermuda 45 in 22.2 overs (J. Lewis three for seven).

At Bridgetown (Barbados): Sri Lanka 294 for seven in 50 overs bt Scotland 135 in 41.2 overs.

At St. Augustine (Trinidad): South Africa 192 in 50 overs bt Ireland 157 in 44.2 overs (A. Botha 40, A. Hall three for 26, C. Langeveldt four for 31).

At Jamaica: West Indies 268 for six in 50 overs (C. Gayle 75, M. Samuels 100) bt Kenya 247 for seven in 50 overs (R. Shah 41, C. Obuya 54 not out). — Agencies

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