Varun Aaron’s unbridled pace powered India’s attack in their final two-day tour game before the four-Test series against Australia starts at Adelaide Oval.
Aaron continued to impress in local conditions on Thursday, snaring three wickets at Adelaide’s Glenelg Oval as the Cricket Australia XI reached 8-205 at tea.
The 25-year-old has played only three Tests due to a series of injuries, but he will almost certainly add to that next Tuesday.
The right-armer was the leading wicket-taker when the two sides met in a two-day match at the same venue last week.
He looked even better on Thursday.
Aaron was handed new-ball responsibilities after being used as a first-change bowler in the corresponding fixture last week.
He didn’t disappoint, dismissing Ashton Turner for a duck in the second over when the highly-rated CA XI captain dragged the ball onto his stumps.
Tasmania opener Jordan Silk and Alex Keath put on a stand worth 71 runs after the hosts collapsed to 3-34.
Aaron returned to break it, with Silk out edging for 58.
Evan Gulbis then played on to give Aaron figures of 3-35 from 13 overs.
Mohammed Shami struck twice with the new ball, removing Ryan Carters and Matthew Short in his six-over spell that cost 20 runs.
India’s tour game at Adelaide Oval last week was cancelled following the shock death of Phillip Hughes.
Cricket Australia wanted to give the visitors a replacement match before the rescheduled four-Test series starts in Adelaide on Tuesday.
“We have a responsibility to provide international teams with adequate preparation ahead of international series and we feel that this two-day tour match will prove sufficient,” CA team performance general manager Pat Howard said.