MELBOURNE: Sourav Ganguly and Rahul Dravid repaired a pathetic start by the Indians on a rain-affected first day of their warm-up match against Victoria at the Junction Oval on Thursday.
Ganguly (51) scored his half century at the stroke of tea, gliding one down to point region while Rahul Dravid, attuned himself to the role of an opener with a sedate 33 as India closed the day at 110 for 3 from 38 overs.
The duo's damage-control partnership came when the visitors were reeling at 38 for 3 inside the first hour after the early session was washed out.
Mahendra Singh Dhoni, the stand-in captain in the absence of Anil Kumble who chose to skip the game, won the toss and promptly decided to give his batsmen the much-needed practice in the Australian conditions.
However, the Indians were rocked by little known left-arm paceman Allan Wise who claimed all three wickets to fall in the second session of the day's play.
It still looked a long day for the Indians, who struggled to come to terms with the conditions.
Dravid, however, took his role as opener seriously and was doggedly unbeaten, flicking off his hips and steering on the offside being his major strokes.
Ganguly, all set for his 100th Test in Melbourne next week, was giving Dravid company with an equally sedate innings before shifting gears towards the end of the session.
The left-hander stroked the ball sweetly on the offside and came down the track to spinners even as clouds again gathered on the horizon.
Ganguly completed his half century off the last ball before tea and his 86-ball innings included eight hits to the fence.
The two thus settled a few early nerves in the dressing room after the loss of three quick wickets.
Wasim Jaffer (0) set the tone for the miserable afternoon when his attempted pull went high up for the mid-off fielder to take an easy catch.
VVS Laxman (1) lazily flicked a delivery for wicketkeeper Matthew Hade to bring off a smart catch on the legside.
Sachin Tendulkar (19) looked completely at ease as he stroked a few shots down the ground before he under-edged a cut on to his stumps.
The conditions were damp and the ball never quite came on to the bat which accentuated the batsmen's problems.
India desperately need to make the most of this game before they plunge headlong into the Test series, starting with the the Boxing Day Test at the MCG on December 26.
Scoreboard
Indians (Ist innings):
Wasim Jaffer c Finch b Wise 0
Rahul Dravid batting 33
VVS Laxman c Wade b Wise 1
Sourav Ganguly batting 51
Extras (LB-1, NB-5) 6
Total (for three wkts, 38 overs) 110
Fall of wickets: 1-3, 2-10, 3-38
Bowling:
Peter Siddle 11-0-37-0
Allan Wise 10-3-27-3
Andew McDonald 6-1-11-0
Justin Hastings 6-2-17-0
Bryce McGain 5-2-22-0. PTI AS PM
