MUMBAI, Feb 18: England captain Michael Vaughan and Ian Bell warmed up for the upcoming Test series in India with half-centuries in a practice match here on Saturday. Bell top-scored with a solid 78 and Vaughan made a fluent 54 as England were bowled out for 299 in their first innings on the opening day of a three-day tour opener against the Cricket Club of India President’s XI.

Left-handed opener Andrew Strauss also made merry with a 77-ball 51 in a match which is not a first-class fixture as each side is allowed to try out more than 11 players.

England’s only first-class game before the three-Test series starts at Vadodara on Feb 23.

The tourists gained valuable batting practice against a mediocre attack. The hosts used as many as nine bowlers, but seamer Kshemal Waigankar impressed the most with three wickets.

Electing to bat, England lost Matthew Prior for a duck before Strauss and Vaughan propped up the innings with a 102-run stand for the second wicket.

All-rounder Paul Colingwood remained unbeaten with 47.

Brief scores:

ENGLAND (1st Innings) 299 (I.R. Bell 78, M.P. Vaughan 54, A.J. Strauss 51, P.D. Collingwood 47 not out, K.P. Pietersen 26, A. Flintoff 20; H. Waigankar 3-53, H.N. Bachani 2-66) v CCI PRESIDENT’S.—AFP