MELBOURNE, Dec 23: India were denied another day of valuable match practice ahead of the opening Test against Australia after the final day of their tour match against Victoria was abandoned through rain here on Saturday.

Umpires Paul Reiffel and John Ward abandoned the third and final play without a ball being bowled because of a wet field and overnight and morning rain at Junction Oval.

India finished with just 48 overs from the match from which they made 133 for four.

Saurav Ganguly top scored with 59, Rahul Dravid finished 38 not out and Allan Wise took 4-37 for Victoria.The rain has forced the Indians to rely on indoor practice for the Boxing Day Test although the forecast is for improving weather conditions.

India’s players spent much of Friday and Saturday in the indoor nets at the Melbourne Cricket Ground to try to make up for the play they have lost in their only hit-out before the first Test.

Scoreboard

INDIA (1st Innings, overnight 110-3):

W. Jaffer c Finch b Wise 0

R. Dravid not out 38

V.V.S. Laxman c Wade b Wise 1

S.E. Tendulkar b Wise 19

S.C. Ganguly c Blizzard b Wise 59

Yuvraj Singh not out 6

EXTRAS (LB-1, NB-9) 10

TOTAL (for four wkts, 48 overs) 133

FALL OF WKTS: 1-3, 2-10, 3-38, 4-121.

BOWLING: Siddle 15-1-43-0 (6nb); Wise 15-4-37-4 (3nb); McDonald 6-1-11-0; Hastings 6-2-17-0; McGain 6-2-24-0.

RESULT: Match drawn.—AFP