Australia declare at 505/8, BP XI tottering at 143/6

CHANDIGARH - Australia consolidated its position against the Indian Board President’s XI, declaring its first innings at 505 for eight and reducing the hosts to 143 for six on the second day of the three-day warm-up match here Sunday.

Australia’s Marcus North (124 not out) hit the third century of the innings after Shane Watson (115) and Simon Katich (104) laid the foundation with a 232-run stand.

Resuming from Saturday’s score of 319 for the loss of one wicket, Australia did not have a good start Sunday. Captain Ricky Ponting (42 runs) and his deputy Michael Clarke (44 runs) were back to pavilion quickly with the scoreboard reading 327 for three.

However, North played fluently and remained unbeaten on 124 runs (19 fours and two sixes). He got good support from Tim Paine (45) at the other end.

Pragyan Ojha (3-67) was the leading wicket-taker for India, while S. Sreesanth and S. Dhawan chipped in with two wickets each.

However, the Inddian Board President’s XI struggled to handle the Australian bowling attack and were 146 for the loss of six wickets at the close of play.

Piyush Chawla, who stitched a 53-run unbeaten seventh-wicket partnership with Sreesanth, was the highest scorer. He made a quick 64 runs off 73 balls, hitting nine fours and two sixes.