Shami takes three but other bowlers toil on Day 3 of warmup match

SYDNEY:A largely frustrating outing for India bowlers was made worse by Prithvi Shaw’s injury setback on the third day of their tour game against Cricket Australia XI here.

Cricket Australia XI were 356/6 at stumps in response to India’s 358 all out at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Friday.

Opener D’arcy Short topscored for the hosts with 74 off 91 balls. Max Bryant (62), Harry Nielsen (56*) and Aaron Hardie (69*) were the others to score halfcenturies.

India didn’t start the day well as Umesh Yadav (1/81) and Mohammed Shami (3/67) leaked runs. The duo sprayed the ball around, conceding nearly at six runs per over in the first hour of play.

Cricket Australia XI reached 178/2 at lunch. Ashwin bowled Bryant in the 19th over to break his 114-run opening stand with Short. The latter then gloved behind off Shami before the break.

India put in a better showing in the second session. Shami and Yadav both bowled improved second spells while Jake Carder (38) and Sam Whiteman (35) added 60 for the third wicket.

Shami came into his own with the older ball, picking two more wickets during the day’s proceedings. Carder was bowled, while Jonathan Merlo (3) was caught behind before tea.

Ashwin was India’s best bowler on the day, at least in terms of control, finishing with 1/63 in 24 overs.

Cricket Australia XI lost four wickets for 21 runs in the second session to reach the tea break at 246/6. Ashwin ran out Param Uppal for five, while Yadav had Whiteman caught behind for 35.

Ishant Sharma (0/57) and Ravindra Jadeja (0/37) also bowled a couple of spells during the day, but didn’t pose any major threats to the hosts batsmen.

Nielsen and Hardie defied India with a 122-run stand in the final session.

Brief scores: India 358 . Cricket Australia XI 356/6 (D’arcy Short 74, Aaron Hardie 69*, Max Bryant 62, Harry Nielsen 56; Mohammed Shami 3/67) .