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 match in Durban on Saturday.

The hosts were 68 for 1 from 28 overs but 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.

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.

Scorecard

Indians Ist Innings: 270 for 6 decl.

Kwazulu Natal XI Ist Innings:
Ross McMillan batting 31
Fabian Lazarus lbw b Patel 9
Rivash Gobind batting 23

Extras (lb2, nb3) 5

Total (for 1 wkt, 27 overs) 68

Fall of wicket: 1-22.

Bowling: Zaheer 5-1-7-0, Sreesanth 5-0-10-0, Pathan 5-1-15-0, Patel 4-1-8-1, VRV Singh 4-0-17-0, Ganguly 4-1-9-0.