/ 2 February 2010

Parnell, Morkel impress in tour opener

Pace bowlers Morne Morkel and Wayne Parnell shared six wickets on Tuesday on the opening day of South Africa’s two-day warmup game against Indian Cricket Board President’s XI at Nagpur.

Morkel claimed 3-24 and Parnell 3-66 in the Board President’s XI total of 318 that featured a century from middle-order batsman Abhishek Nayar.

Nayar posted a composed knock of 100 and shared an innings-reviving, seventh-wicket stand of 181 with Shikhar Dhawan (70) after the team slumped to 114 for six.

In reply, South Africa was 44 without loss at stumps, with skipper Graeme Smith on 30 and Ashwell Prince on 13.

South Africa will play two tests and three one-dayers on its tour to India. The opening test match begins Saturday in Nagpur. — Sapa-AP