Flower century in drawn match

Zimbabwe's Andy Flower warmed up for a Test series against India with an unbeaten century against the National Cricket Academy in Indore on Friday.

The three-day tour opener ended in a tame draw after the tourists opted to bat through most of the final day, rather than set a challenging fourth innings target.

Zimbabwe, who conceded a one-run first innings lead to the Academy boys on Thursday, batted until well after tea to lift their second innings from the overnight 83-2 to 320-5 declared.

The home team, comprising India's future Test hopefuls, were 42-1 in their second knock when the umpires called off the match after 11 overs.

Left-handed Flower hit 119 with the help of 14 boundaries before he retired to open the way for team mates to gain useful batting practice.

Flower added 122 for the third wicket with his overnight partner Trevor Madondo (65) and 110 for the fourth with Stuart Carlisle. Carlisle chipped in with 39 and stand-in captain Guy Whittall made 36 not out to complete a profitable outing for the touring batsmen.

Andy Flower and Alistair Campbell, the only ones to have played in all of Zimbabwe's 45 Tests so far, looked in good shape for the upcoming series with centuries in the tour opener.

But there was little gain for the bowlers on the flat Nehru stadium pitch that produced just 18 wickets over the three days.

Zimbabwe have another three-day match against the Board President's team at Faridabad from Monday before the first of two back-to-back Tests starts in New Delhi on November 18.

Zimbabwe's only other Test on Indian soil, also at New Delhi in 1993, ended in a massive innings defeat for the African nation.

Mail Cricket Editor