Rain has final say as India draw against Essex

LONDON: India’s lone warm-up match ahead of next week’s first Test against England ended in a draw after rain cut short their clash with Essex at Chelmsford on Friday.

Before play started on Wednesday, India requested the match be reduced from its scheduled four days to three to allow them more time to train at Edgbaston, the venue for the first Test, although Essex suggested the decision had been influenced by the recent hot temperatures in Britain.

Friday’s action saw Essex declare on 359 for eight wickets as Paul Walter’s 75 kept India, who started their second innings 36 runs ahead, at bay.

But rain took the players off in the 22nd over at Chelmsford with India 89 for two.

Essex resumed on 237 for five on the third day and former England wicketkeeper James Foster was the first man dismissed on Friday as he played on to Umesh Yadav for 42.

Walter dug in before he was caught by Ajinkya Rahane off Ishant Sharma.

Essex declared their innings at 359 for eight when Matt Coles was dismissed without scoring.

The rain came with KL Rahul 36 not out and Rahane 19 not out after Shikhar Dhawan was dismissed by Matthew Quinn without scoring and Cheteshwar Pujara caught behind for 23 runs.

India face England in the first of a five-test series starting in Birmingham on Wednesday.