Aussie recover from spin punch. Last wicket partnership saves day after Piyush, Pragyan strike.
Tour match - Australian v Board President XI
Miachel Hussey Ton Save Follow-on Against IBP XI
Last Update : 04-Oct-2008 17:00:00 IST

Hyderabad: Michael Hussey's brilliant, unbeaten 126 helped the Australians avoid the follow-on on the penultimate day of their tour opener against India Board President XI, who extended their overall lead to 251 runs.

The Aussie hopes hinged on Hussey as they began Saturday 237 runs in arrears and they still needed 88 runs to avoid the follow-on when last man Stuart Clark joined him in the middle.

The BP XI spinners tasted early success with local lad Pragyan Ojha breaking the 71-run partnership for the fifth wicket when he had Brad Haddin stumped by his opposite number without any addition to his overnight score. After Haddin went Australia follow next four wickets in just 19 runs added, score was 218 for nine.

Quite the immovable object, Hussey found an able ally in Clark and but for the due's last-wicket partnership of 96 runs, the visiting side would have folded up for less than the 314 they eventual posted.

President's XI second inning lose first two wickets at 35 runs only. But end the day, skipper Yuvraj and Jaffer move score to 110 and total lead by 215 runs.

Brief Score: Board President's XI 110 for 2 (Jaffer 46*, Yuvraj 37*) and 455 lead Australians 314 (Hussey 126*, Chawla 5-76) by 251 runs.