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Filed under Ind v Aus 3rd test Perth

Manuka Oval is not a small place to play cricket. In fact, heavy outfield made it even tougher for Indians batsmen to do what their first nature says - 'sit back and hit fours'.. Day 1 of this 3 day tour match against ACT XI made'em run for their runs!

Virendra Sehwag looked as compact as he has ever been - playing with straight bat & waiting! giving some respect to the bowler who were over cloud number 9 as they bowled to famous batting line-up in the world. Sehwag, when lost patience, got lose on deliveries wide outside off-stump - looking to hit sixes over third man, but didn't connect a single one. Australian Territory captain (Mark Higgs) employed innovative fielding including a third man before Delhi batsman finally edged a 'very tough' catch to ACT captain who took it brilliantly.

Wasim Jaffer, on the other hand, was using heavier bat & cracked two sixes in his 191 ball innings. one pulled over square leg, one cut on top of point. Dinesh Karthik too played his shots, and Dravid was his customary defensive mode.. until the spinners came along. Former Indian captain didn't hit one six in his 91 ball innings but he was the only player to leave his crease & intentionally hit over the top.

ACT XI bowlers, who are sort of second string of Victoria team who play first class level in Australia, bowled almost 15 overs per hour every hour today on Day 1.. something we don't see International teams doing!

Trying to make a contest out of this 3 day tie, Indian Captain Dhoni declared Indian XI innings at 325, allowing his bowlers a 4 over crack at Chris Rogers who is very close to playing test cricket for Australia and has been specially sent in for this match by the Aussie selectors.

India XI vs ACT XI, 3 day tour match, end of Day 1 scorecard
India 1st Inn : 325/9d in 84 overs.
Jaffer 92(91b,8x4 2x6), Sehwag 24(49b)	Dhoni 38(37b 6x4), Pathan 33, RP 12
Karthik 25(39), Dravid 62(91), Yuvraj 2	Perera 2/40, Swards 3/45, Ritchard 2/71
ACT XI 1st Inn : 10/0 in 4 overs. Rogers 2* & Cowan 8*

Notes to Note
**Its a 12 per side, 11 acting 3 day match between India's touring side and invitation eleven from Australian capital territory made between Melbourne and Sydney - called as Canberra. This rule means India can use Ishant Sharma for bowling but Rahul Dravid can bat in place of him.. and vice-versa for ACT XI.
**Manuka Oval ground is a also the venue for India vs Srilanka match in upcoming Commonwealth bank triseries.. 12th february 2008 it will be when a day match between both the touring teams will be played here.
**There were rumors that Indians players will be wearing black ribbon on their sleeves to protest quietly about what wrong has happened to them in last 4 days, but decided against it. And quite understandably too!
**There are lots of flies at Manuka Oval but no third umpire!

India XI vs ACT XI : Practice match

Good little match building at Manuka Oval

Home team bat out Day 2 tour match

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Day 1 : no one ahead, none behind

Day 2 : Pratap & Pathan swing surprise search'of 17th

Day 3 : 348 runs to make, 8 wickets to take, 2 days to go

India deny Aussies their 17th, again & how