Chennai: Parvez Rasool spun a web around Australian batsmen and took seven wickets to help Board President’s XI dismiss the visitors for a paltry 241 in 88.3 overs on the opening day of the first warm-up match at the Guru Nanak College ground here on Tuesday.
The young Jammu and Kashmir all-rounder wreaked havoc in his three spells and took seven for 45 and exposed the Australian’s weakness towards playing the spin. This was also Rasool’s best bowling figure till date. The spinner just resorted to flighted deliveries and got enough turn to deceive the Australian batsmen, including Test opener Ed Cowan, stand-in skipper-cum-wicket-keeper Mathew Wade and all-rounder Steve Smith.
Earlier Australian openers Cowan and Usman Khawaja started off good and added 77 runs for the opening stand before Rasool entangled them in his spin web. Cowan, top-scored with 58 but was done in when he tried to play a cut shot and was snapped up by Parthiv Patel behind stumps.
Wade, who was leading the side in absence of Michael Clarke and Shane Watson who are yet to arrive in India, did manage a couple of sixes off leg-spinner Sarabjit Ladda on his way to 35 but misjudged the length of a flighted delivery from Parvez Rasool. He went after the bowler but mistimed it to be caught by substitute fielder Kamlesh Makvana at long-off.
Thereafter, Glenn Maxwell edged a Stuart Binny delivery around the off-stump and Patel made no mistake to take the catch behind the tumps. The two quick wickets turned the tide in favour of Board President XI with the visitors placed at 170/4 when the teams went in for tea.
But what happened in the final session was something even Rassol would not have dreamt. Rassol induced an edge off Smith for Mandeep Singh to pouch at forward short leg. From there on, Rassol just ran through the lower order to wrap up a memorable day.
By Indian Sports News Network