Australia struggle against spinners

Published October 2, 2004

MUMBAI, Oct 1: Australia got a taste of the perils that await them in next week's Test series against India after being made to struggle on a turning wicket in the three-day tour opener on Friday.

The tourists toiled in stifling hot weather to reach 302-7 declared before national champions Mumbai replied with 150-4 by close of the second day's play at the Brabourne stadium.

Damien Martyn, who made 71 before retiring with a stomach upset, and stand-in captain Adam Gilchrist (42 not out) were the only batsmen to make an impression.

Barring Matthew Hayden's 67 on the rain-curtailed first day, none of the others crossed 30 on a wicket where the ball spun and bounced. There was little joy with the ball either as pace bowler Brett Lee, hoping to make the team for the first Test at Bangalore from Wednesday, failed to take a wicket in 14 overs that cost 36 runs.

Glenn McGrath alone showed the virtue of good line and length in unresponsive conditions and was rewarded with two wickets for just eight runs in 13 overs. Amol Mazumdar was unbeaten at stumps on 50, having put on 70 for the fourth wicket with Vinod Kambli, who was dismissed off the last ball of the day for 26.

SCOREBOARD

Australia (1st innings) (overnight 159-3):

J. Langer c Samant b Agarkar 24

M. Hayden c and b Bahutule 67

S. Katich c Indulkar b Kulkarni 30

D. Martyn retired 71

B. Hodge c Indulkar b Powar 30

M. Clarke run out 10

A. Gilchrist not out 42

S. Watson lbw b Kulkarni 0

B. Lee c Indulkar b Powar 21

Extras: (lb3, nb4) 7

Total (for seven wkts decl, 101 overs) 302

Did not bat: N. Hauritz, G. McGrath.

Fall of wkts: 1-69, 2-108, 3-146, 4-206, 5-227, 6-248, 7-302

Bowling: Agarkar 15-3-35-1, Powar 29-2-104-2, Salvi 9-2-24-0, Kulkarni 25-5-65-2, Bahutule 23-3-71-1

Mumbai (1st innings):

V. Mane c sub (White) b McGrath 3

Wasim Jaffar lbw b McGrath 48

V. Indulkar lbw b Hauritz 13

A. Mazumdar not out 50

V. Kambli lbw b Watson 26

Extras: (b4, nb6) 10

Total (for four wkts, 57.2 overs) 150

To bat: R. Powar, S. Bahutule, A. Agarkar, V. Samant, A. Salvi, N. Kulkarni.

Fall of wkts: 1-6, 2-64, 3-80, 4-150

Bowling: McGrath 13-7-8-2, Lee 14-3-36-0, Watson 5.2-0-11-1, Clarke 4-0-11-0, Hauritz 16-1-56-1, Katich 3-0-18-0, Hodge 2-0-6-0. -AFP

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