Hove (England), June 24: Sussex’s South African debutant seamer Pepler Sandri continued to be a thorn in Australia XI’s side on the first day of their Ashes tour opener here on Wednesday.

Having dismissed Phillip Hughes before lunch, he removed Simon Katich for 49 shortly afterwards as Australians lost three wickets for one run in 10 balls.

But having been 114/5 they recovered to 187/5 at tea with Michael Clarke unbeaten on 27 and wicketkeeper Brad Haddin 44 not out.

Left-hander Katich was on course for a fifty when he edged a cut off a full length Sandri delivery and was taken at slip by Michael Yardy. Two balls later Michael Hussey (32) was lbw to James Kirtley and, in Sandri’s next over, Marcus North, on one, nicked through to wicketkeeper Andrew Hodd.

A crowd of 6,000 queued along Eaton Road to get a look at Australians in their first match since Ricky Ponting’s men made a group stage exit from the World Twenty20. The Australia XI captain saw opener Hughes plunder three off-side fours in the first over of the match from Kirtley. But the opener, who had a brilliant early season spell with English county side Middlesex, was out for 15 when he was bowled middle-stump on the drive by a full-length delivery from Sandri. — AFP