The Australians proved too good for Maharashtra, scoring an emphatic 103-run victory in their first practice match, ahead of their October 18 ICC Champions Trophy opener, at the Wankhede stadium, in Mumbai on Thursday.
The World Cup champions, keen to add the Champions Trophy, the only silverware missing from their overflowing collection, made mincemeat of the Maharashtra attack to pile on an imposing 297 for 7 in 50 overs.
In reply, Maharashtra struggled to make headway and were 11 for 2 before recovering.
One down batsman Yogesh Thakawale top-scored with a knock of 50 off 80 balls, inclusive of six fours, before retiring to give other batsmen a chance.
Former captain Hrishikesh Kanitkar scored 33 while Sairaj Bahutule remained unconquered on 20. But Maharashtra were never in the hunt and lost wickets at regular intervals before ending end up well short of the target.
The Maharashtra batsmen struggled against the pace of Brett Lee, and the lift and seam movement of Glenn McGrath, initially before prospering against other bowlers. Lee picked 2 for 13 in six overs while McGrath got a wicket in his second and last spells to end up with 2 for 28 off 10 overs.
Earlier, after being put in to bat, Andrew Symonds showed his big-hitting prowess, whacking seven sixes out of the dozen smacked by the Australians, including three in one over from Bahutule, during his whirlwind knock of 78 off 59 balls.
Symonds, who came three down after the fall of Adam Gilchrist (6), Shane Watson (70, 83b, 7x4s, 2x6s), and his captain Ricky Ponting (24), belted the weak Maharashtra attack at all over the ground.
The Aussies lost Gilchrist early, with 29 on the board, but fruitful partnerships of 72 and 79 for the second and third wickets respectively put them on the way to the huge total.
Brief scores:
Australia 297 for 7 (Shane Watson 70, Damien Martyn 42, Andrew Symonds 78; Jadhav 2/50, A Dole 2/38, S Burkul 2/47) beat Maharashtra 194 all out (Yogesh Thakawale 50, Hrishikesh Kanitkar 33; B Lee 2/13, G McGrath 2/28).
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