Sun Dec 01 10:22:42 UTC 2024: ## India Faces Stiff Test in Canberra Warm-up Match
**Canberra, Australia:** India faced a challenging chase of 241 runs in a warm-up match against the Australia Prime Minister’s XI in Canberra. While the PM XI posted a formidable total largely thanks to a century by Sam Konstas (107), India’s chase was marked by both promising starts and setbacks.
The PM XI innings was dominated by Konstas’ brilliant 107 off 90 balls, an innings featuring 14 fours and a six. His impressive display overshadowed a strong bowling performance from India’s Harshit Rana, who took four wickets. Hanno Jacobs also contributed a half-century (57). However, India’s bowlers managed to keep a lid on the scoring rate in the later stages, restricting the PM XI to 240 all out in 43.2 overs.
India’s response started strongly with a promising opening partnership between KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal. The duo put on a 50-run stand before Jaiswal fell for 45. Rahul looked solid throughout his innings, ultimately retiring not out on 27. Captain Rohit Sharma, however, had a disappointing start, dismissed cheaply for 3. Nitish Reddy’s promotion up the order hinted at the challenges India faced in their chase, as they ended the day at 122/2, still needing a further 119 runs to win. Shubman Gill was unbeaten on 24 at the close of play.
The match provided valuable match practice for the Indian team ahead of the upcoming Test series, highlighting both the strengths and areas needing improvement in their batting and bowling line-ups. The unpredictable nature of the pitch and the strong batting performance by the PM XI offered a stern test for the Indian side.
First Piper 