CHELMSFORD: India had to settle for a draw in their tour match with Essex after rain forced the game to be abandoned here on Friday.

Essex declared their first innings at 359 for eight on Friday, the game’s third and final day of the match, as Paul Walter’s 75 frustrated the tourists, who began their second innings 36 runs ahead.

But the players were forced off in the 22nd over at the County Ground with India at 89-2.

India are preparing to face England in the first of their five-Test series at Edgbaston which starts next Wednesday.

Earlier on the England tour, India lost the three-match ODI series 2-1 having beaten the hosts 2-1 in the T20 rubber.

Essex resumed on 237-5 on day three and James Foster was the first to fall, playing on to Umesh Yadav’s delivery to walk for 42.

Walter continued to frustrate the tourists before he was caught by Ajinkya Rahane off the bowling of Ishant Sharma.

Essex declared when Matt Coles was dismissed without scoring allowing India to start their chase.

They had reached 89-2 with KL Rahul 36 and Rahane 19 both unbeaten having seen Shikhar Dhawan dismissed by Matthew Quinn without scoring and Cheteshwar Pujara caught behind for 23.

Quinn finished with figures of one for five with Walter one for 38.

Published in Dawn, July 28th, 2018