Agencies
 
Durban, Dec 24: There was a lot of cheer when Munaf Patel picked up a wicket off his very first ball but thereafter the Indians appeared listless against a local Kwazulu Natal XI in a warm-up cricket match here.

The hosts were at 243 for 8 from 67 overs when play was called off an hour early and a draw was declared.

All attention was on Patel who was brought in as second change after Zaheer Khan, S Sreesanth and Irfan Pathan had a bowl at the Crusaders Park here.

Patel, who has not been in action since November 26 when he pulled up with a sore ankle in the one-day international in Cape Town, is important to India's plans and the word is that a good spell here would earn him selection ahead of VRV Singh.

Indians declared at their overnight score of 270 for 6 and the hosts largely made good use of the sluggish pitch and uninspiring bowling, except for one moment when Patel earned a leg before shout against Fabian Lazarus (9).

India tried as many as six bowlers in the first session, keeping with their plans to give the bowlers a good run ahead of the second Test of the series which begins here on December 26.

Scores:

KwaZulu-Natal Invitation XI 243 for 8 (Gobind 88, van Vuuren 50) v Indians 270 for 6 decl