Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid and the openers hit early form with half centuries to help India to 298 for four on the first day of their three-day tour match against Pakistan 'A' on Saturday.

Batting in bitter cold, openers Gautam Gambhir (53) and Wasim Jaffer (58) gave India a good start on a flat track after the visitors won the toss.

Venkatsai Laxman (25) and Yuvraj Singh (11) were at the crease at the close.

The tour game is India's only practice match before the first test from Jan 13.

Tendulkar was in fluent form hitting 10 fours in his 74 while Dravid made a 63 from 100 balls with seven fours.

Gambhir was the first man out caught at point by Rao Iftkhar off pacer Mohammad Irshad before lunch while Jaffer, who made 58 from 102 balls with eight fours, was caught behind off Umar Gul.

Dravid was caught in the final over before tea by Hasan Raza off Imran Farhat in the covers and Tendulkar edged pacer Yasir Arafat behind to keeper Zulqarnain Haider.

The home side includes nine Test and international players.

Scorecard

Indians (1st innings):
Gautam Gambhir c Iftekar Anjum b Irshad 53
Wasim Jaffer c Zulkarnain b Gul 58
Rahul Dravid c Raza b Farhat 63
Sachin Tendulkar c Zulkarnain Haider b Arafat 74
VVS Laxman not out 25
Yuvraj Singh not out 11.
Extras: (4 lb, 10 nb) 14
Total: (in 77 overs, 334 mins) 298 for 4.

Fall of wickets: 1-81, 2- 153, 3-220, 4-279.

Bowling: Umar Gul:13-1-40-1, Rao Iftekar Anjum 10-2-33-0, Yasser Arafat 17-3-61-1, Mohammad Irshad 13-2-44-1, Imran Farhat 8-0-36-1, Mansoor Amjad 16-0-80-0.

Teams:
India: Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, Yuvraj Singh, VVS Laxman, Wasim Jaffer, Gautam Gambhir, Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Harbhajan Singh, Zaheer Khan, Ajit Agarkar, Irfan Pathan, Rudra Pratap Singh.

Pakistan A: Imran Farhat, Faisal Iqbal, Asim Kamal, Zulqarnain Haider, Mohammad Irshad, Rao Iftikhar, Mohammad Wasim, Hasan Raza, Bazid Khan, Mansoor Amjad, Umar Gul, Yasir Arafat.