LOS ANGELES, SEPT 16: On a pitch of variable pace and bounce, India A, despite having the advantage of batting second, withered away to suffer a 77-run defeat at the hands of Australia A in the opening match of the Moov America Challenge Cup five-match series conducted by the United States of America Cricket Association at the Woodley Cricket Club grounds here on Wednesday.The pitch was of poor quality and unfair to the many youngsters trying to catch the selectors' eye. It had been worked upon only for two weeks by the groundsman flown in from England. Morning dew and misty conditions delayed start of play by an hour. The Aussies, who won the toss were spurred by Andrew Symonds' 77. In reply, the Indians capitulated to some sinipid batting display.SCOREBOARDAustralia A: Adam Gilchrist c Laxman b Harbhajan 19, Ryan Campbell c Harbhajan b ganesh 8, Michael de Venuto c Sanghvi b Harbhajan 12, Damien Martyn b Sanghvi 22, Andrew Symonds c Bundela b Ganesh 77, Brad Hodge c Kaif b Ganesh 30,Shane Lee c&b Harbhajan 0, Brad Young not out 10, Brad Creevey not out 1. Extras (b1, lb2, w10): 13. Total (for seven wickets in 47 overs): 192.Fall of wickets: 1-16, 2-42, 3-45, 4-118, 5-163, 6-163, 7-187.Bowling: Ganesh 10-1-36-3, Nehra 7-0-22-0, Harbhajan 8-0-38-3; Sanghvi 9-0-38-1, Sriram 10-0-39-0, Sehwag 3-0-16-0.India A: Devang Gandhi lbw Hansen 15, S Sriram lbw B Lee 12, VVS Laxman b Creevey 12, Mohd Kaif c Gilchrist b Lee 4, Devendra Bundela c Venuto b Young 14, Virendra Sehwag c Symonds b Lee 12, Sameer Dighe c Gilchrist b Creevey 0, Dodda Ganesh c Lee b Creevey 7, Rahul Sanghvi run out 3, Harbhajan Singh c Venuto b Young 0, Ashish Nehra not out 4. Extras (w16, nb6): 22. Total (all out in 34.1 overs): 115.Fall of wickets: 1-37, 2-45, 3-58, 4-60, 5-77, 6-79, 7-92, 8-97, 9-111, 10-115.Bowling: B Lee 7.1-0-29-1, Hansen 6-1-28-1, S Lee 6-1-14-2, Creevey 10-3-22-3, Young 5-1-22-2.
