<p>Canberra: Travel back to the days of one-day cricket when players wore traditional whites, used red ball and the white sightscreen formed the bowler's background. On a Sunday afternoon, when rain briefly interrupted the game, those scenes from the good old times were recreated with only the pink ball replacing the red ball.</p><p>After Saturday's opening day of the two-day practice match between India and Primer Minister's XI was abandoned due to a combination of consistent drizzle and wet field, the teams agreed to play a 50-over game to make optimum use of the available time. The game was eventually reduced to a 46-over-a-side affair after a 40-minute stoppage here at the Manuka Oval.</p><p>But unlike the modern-day white ball cricket, which is 'Bazball' on steroids, this game had all the trappings of a typical red-ball cricket. There was movement when the ball was new, there were early wickets, phases of consolidation, unexpected collapse and final flourishes.</p><p>For the record, India finished their innings at 257/5 in 46 overs in reply to PM's XI's total of 240 all out in 43.2 overs, a total powered by a breezy century from Sam Konstas (107, 97b, 14x4, 1x6).</p><p>Though the tourists reached the victory target in 42.5 overs, they batted their full quota of 46 overs with as many as six Indian batters, who are assured to start the second Test, getting a decent hit. </p><p>Yashasvi Jaiswal (45, 59b, 9x4) was all at sea against the new ball, with Scott Boland and Jack Nisbet giving him a tough time. He was beaten a few times while his nervous hits resulted in top edges. Looking physically uncomfortable, often feeling his back with his right hand, the southpaw hung on and began to gain control. KL Rahul, after a play-and-miss period, appeared comfortable -- a couple of sumptuous cover drives establishing his authority. </p><p>Jaiswal fell after top-edging an attempted pull while Rahul (27 retired not out, 44b, 4x4) retired soon, paving the way for the arrival of Shubman Gill (50 retired not out, 62b, 7x4) and Rohit Sharma who walked in at No. 4 with Virat Kohli leaving for team hotel early in India's chase. </p><p>Gill, returning after recovering from a thumb injury which forced him to miss the first Test, showed few signs of discomfort cutting and driving the ball as sublimely as he ever has. Even as the youngster blossomed under lights, Rohit departed poking at a delivery in the corridor. Significantly, Rahul opened the innings with Rohit dropping down the order but it remains to be seen if India stick to the same strategy in the second Test. </p><p>Though India would have preferred a two-day match, it was a good warm-up, nonetheless, ahead of the day/night Test in Adelaide.</p><p>The pacers, with Jasprit Bumrah given a break, got a sense of the pink ball behaviour, while the batters got a good workout under lights. Beginning their chase under twilight, which is considered the toughest phase to bat with the natural light fading and the artificial light taking over, Indians gave a good account of themselves against a hard-working attack that included Scott Boland. </p><p>Mohammed Siraj, though he claimed only one wicket, was the most impressive of India's bowlers with admirable control, an aspect the other three quicks struggled with. Nitish Rana (4/44), Akash Deep (2/58) and Prasidh Krishna (1/37) were amongst wickets but couldn't contain Konstas, who was ungainly but highly impactful en route to a high-quality century. The right-hander, who was part of Australia's Under-19 World Cup winning team earlier this year, betrayed few nerves as he attacked Rana, Akash Deep and Prasidh all across the ground as PM's XI gained ascendancy. </p><p>The quick wickets for Nitish, however, that saw Australia slip to 138/7 from a commanding 131/2, not only pegged back hosts but also offset pacer's early profligacy. </p><p>Exhibiting every sign of a modern-day red-ball batter, the right-hander, who was one of the front runners to open for Australia in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series, pulled, scooped and even charged down to hit the ball over bowler's head. It was largely on the back of his aggressive hundred that the PM's XI built its competitive total.</p>
<p>Canberra: Travel back to the days of one-day cricket when players wore traditional whites, used red ball and the white sightscreen formed the bowler's background. On a Sunday afternoon, when rain briefly interrupted the game, those scenes from the good old times were recreated with only the pink ball replacing the red ball.</p><p>After Saturday's opening day of the two-day practice match between India and Primer Minister's XI was abandoned due to a combination of consistent drizzle and wet field, the teams agreed to play a 50-over game to make optimum use of the available time. The game was eventually reduced to a 46-over-a-side affair after a 40-minute stoppage here at the Manuka Oval.</p><p>But unlike the modern-day white ball cricket, which is 'Bazball' on steroids, this game had all the trappings of a typical red-ball cricket. There was movement when the ball was new, there were early wickets, phases of consolidation, unexpected collapse and final flourishes.</p><p>For the record, India finished their innings at 257/5 in 46 overs in reply to PM's XI's total of 240 all out in 43.2 overs, a total powered by a breezy century from Sam Konstas (107, 97b, 14x4, 1x6).</p><p>Though the tourists reached the victory target in 42.5 overs, they batted their full quota of 46 overs with as many as six Indian batters, who are assured to start the second Test, getting a decent hit. </p><p>Yashasvi Jaiswal (45, 59b, 9x4) was all at sea against the new ball, with Scott Boland and Jack Nisbet giving him a tough time. He was beaten a few times while his nervous hits resulted in top edges. Looking physically uncomfortable, often feeling his back with his right hand, the southpaw hung on and began to gain control. KL Rahul, after a play-and-miss period, appeared comfortable -- a couple of sumptuous cover drives establishing his authority. </p><p>Jaiswal fell after top-edging an attempted pull while Rahul (27 retired not out, 44b, 4x4) retired soon, paving the way for the arrival of Shubman Gill (50 retired not out, 62b, 7x4) and Rohit Sharma who walked in at No. 4 with Virat Kohli leaving for team hotel early in India's chase. </p><p>Gill, returning after recovering from a thumb injury which forced him to miss the first Test, showed few signs of discomfort cutting and driving the ball as sublimely as he ever has. Even as the youngster blossomed under lights, Rohit departed poking at a delivery in the corridor. Significantly, Rahul opened the innings with Rohit dropping down the order but it remains to be seen if India stick to the same strategy in the second Test. </p><p>Though India would have preferred a two-day match, it was a good warm-up, nonetheless, ahead of the day/night Test in Adelaide.</p><p>The pacers, with Jasprit Bumrah given a break, got a sense of the pink ball behaviour, while the batters got a good workout under lights. Beginning their chase under twilight, which is considered the toughest phase to bat with the natural light fading and the artificial light taking over, Indians gave a good account of themselves against a hard-working attack that included Scott Boland. </p><p>Mohammed Siraj, though he claimed only one wicket, was the most impressive of India's bowlers with admirable control, an aspect the other three quicks struggled with. Nitish Rana (4/44), Akash Deep (2/58) and Prasidh Krishna (1/37) were amongst wickets but couldn't contain Konstas, who was ungainly but highly impactful en route to a high-quality century. The right-hander, who was part of Australia's Under-19 World Cup winning team earlier this year, betrayed few nerves as he attacked Rana, Akash Deep and Prasidh all across the ground as PM's XI gained ascendancy. </p><p>The quick wickets for Nitish, however, that saw Australia slip to 138/7 from a commanding 131/2, not only pegged back hosts but also offset pacer's early profligacy. </p><p>Exhibiting every sign of a modern-day red-ball batter, the right-hander, who was one of the front runners to open for Australia in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series, pulled, scooped and even charged down to hit the ball over bowler's head. It was largely on the back of his aggressive hundred that the PM's XI built its competitive total.</p>