Opener Virender Sehwag suffered his second failure of the match as India declared at 90 for 2 on the final morning of the three-day match against Cricket Australia Chairman's XI here on Wednesday.
After the hosts had declared their first innings at the overnight score of 214 for 7, Indians took the second guard but lost Sehwag (8) almost instantly when the opener guided a Peter George delivery into the slips. It gives the hosts a target of 146 runs to win the match in the second innings with two sessions of play still to remaining in the match at Manuka Oval.
Sehwag had made 12 runs in the first innings and was caught in the gully region on the first day. Ajinkya Rahane didn't do any better either and aftering pottering around for 16 balls, he was caught behind the wicket and had still to trouble the scorers.
India, in all, batted for 30 overs in their second innings. Sehwag slammed two fours in left-arm paceman Josh Lalor's second over through the vacant cover region but was startled by a lifting delivery from Peter George. He could do no better than edge the next delivery into the slip region. Left-handed opener Gautam Gambhir stayed put for 42 runs but it must be said a lot of his runs came against spinners.
While the new-ball bowlers operated for the first 14 overs, the duo of Lalor and right-arm quick bowler Peter George, Gambhir did no better than defend or spar at deliveries. Rohit Sharma, on the other hand, was fluent in his knock of 38 off 57 balls with four fours.
Gambhir faced 98 balls for his 42 runs with three fours. The two put on 76 unbeaten runs for the third wicket before being called in by skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni.
Scoreboard
Indians (Ist innings) 269
Cricket Australia Chairman’s XI (Ist Innings) 214 for 7 declared
Indians (2nd innings):
Gautam Gambhir not out 42
Virender Sehwag c Cooper b George 8
Ajinkya Rahane c Ludeman b Lalor 0
Rohit Sharma not out 38
Extras (lb2) 2 Total (for 2 wkts, 30 overs) 90
Fall of wickets: 1-9, 2-14
Bowling: Peter George 7-3-12-1 Josh Lalor 7-2-16-1 Cameron Boyce 7-0-38-0 Jason Holland 8-0-21-0 Usman Khawaja 1-0-1-0 PTI