Average performance a wake-up for India before Test

The Indians came to Napier with huge reputations to play Central Districts, and they will leave without those enhanced. But the New Zealanders will have an uneasy feeling that a sloppy performance in the Test and one-day series starting later this week could see the Indians dominate.

India finished the rain-shortened game at 191 for three around 4:20 p.m. today when thunderstorms forced players from the field.

That followed India's 209 in the first innings, which was bettered by Central's 295 for nine declared.

Central Districts performed above expectations but had much luck go with them. For a start, stand-in captain Craig Spearman won the toss and was able to insert the jet-lagged Indians on a greenish wicket.

As a result, the Indians struggled to only 209 and then had to face the embarrassment of four Central lower-order batsmen treating their attack with relative ease.

Central, at 153 for seven, were on the ropes, but with Bevan Griggs showing the way with his maiden first-class century, the side battled through to 295 for nine declared, with the Indian bowlers unable to rip them out.

The Indians then had to bat the third day out safely, and they were helped in that by the occasional storm, the last one ending the match early.

So India will take from this game a decent shakedown in approach and attitude. Certainly it may have been hard for them to "get up" for a warm-up match against a side not noted as being amongst New Zealand's best, although they were originally up against two of the medium-fast bowlers in the Test 12 named for Wellington.

Those are all-rounder Jacob Oram, who didn't play this match with a hamstring strain, and newcomer Michael Mason, a surprise choice in the Test squad but a good performer in this match.

India can take from this match some good batting from openers Virender Sehwag (61 in the second innings) and Sanjay Bangar (70), a couple of lovely innings from Sachin Tendulkar, and a useful first-innings 48 from skipper Sourav Ganguly. The disappointment was the double failure of Rahul Dravid.

On the bowling front they weren't as impressive, but opening bowler Ajit Agarkar was excellent and off-spinner Harbhajan Singh impressed good judges with his variation and ability to attack.

The fielding wasn't great, but much of that could be attitude. Certainly it will have to be better in the bigger matches to come.

Central produced the surprise century-maker in 24-year-old Griggs, but he did it so well that there will be more to follow.

Mason bowled and batted well, and Spearman and Mathew Sinclair scored half-centuries well enough to indicate New Zealand should score well in the coming series.

The Indians now move to Wellington to prepare for Thursday's Test with New Zealand, on a Basin Reserve wicket that seems certain to be affected by the bad weather in recent days.