Wasim Jaffer and Amol Muzumdar came up with strokeful knocks to ensure that Ranji champions Mumbai were not bowled out of the game by the Australian fast bowlers. The duo helped Mumbai reach 156 for 4 on day two of the three-day tour game at the Brabourne stadium on Friday.
Earlier, the Australians declared their first innings at 302 for 7.
Jaffer played a neat innings of 48 from 115 balls, which included six fours. The opener looked in good touch as he beautifully stroked the ball while facing Glen McGrath and Brett Lee.
McGrath was accurate as ever and accounted for Jaffer's opening partner Vinayak Mane (3) with barely six runs on the board.
Vinit Indulkar, making his debut in first-class cricket, started impressively and seemed unruffled by the few glares he got from Brett Lee. He hit the bowler for a four in the same over, but finally fell leg before wicket to off-spinner Nathan Hauritz after scoring 13. He faced 65 balls.
Jaffer and Muzumdar then piled on the runs, the latter reaching a half-century in the penultimate over of the day.
Jaffer was unlucky to fall two runs short of what would have been a well-earned fifty, as McGrath trapped him leg before as he fended in front of the wickets. He had six fours in his 117-ball essay.
After a long wait, former India batsman Vinod Kambli made his way to the middle and faced some short stuff from Lee that he did well to negotiate. He was out leg before wicket to Shane Watson for 27 off 62 balls, following which the umpires decided to end play for the day.
McGrath was the most impressive Australian bowler. He sent down 13 overs, of which seven were maidens, and claimed two wickets for eight runs.
Earlier, the Australians resumed their first innings on 159 for 3. Damien Martyn hit a solid 71 before retiring. Later, he explained that the decision to quit was, "to give other batsman a chance because we were nearing lunch".
He added, "I was a bit sick last night and had a good knock-in already. Didn't want to exert too much before the first Test."
Though Brad Hodge and Brett Lee played useful innings, it was Adam Gilchrist who delighted with a breezy innings of 42 before the Australians declared on 302.
After Michael Clarke's dismissal for 10, Gilchrist walked in to a rousing ovation as everyone anticipated one of his trademark innings. With lunch still a while away, the southpaw blazed away, hitting two straight sixes and a boundary as he finished unbeaten on 42.
Ramesh Powar and Nilesh Kulkarni were the only successful Mumbai bowlers, claiming a wicket each. Avishkar Salvi was not given a single over in the day, as Mumbai insisted on starting with spin at one end. Kulkarni bowled the opening over and the team persisted with a spin attack despite the new ball being due.
Mumbai displayed some good ground fielding and young Indulkar capped a fine performance with three catches and a run-out.
Scoreboard
Australia (1st innings):
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 Kulkarni 0
B Lee c Indulkar b Powar 21
Extras: (lb-3, nb-4) 7
Total: (for seven wickets, 101 overs) 302
Fall of wickets: 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):
W Jaffer lbw McGrath 48
V Mane c sub (White) b McGrath 3
V Indulkar lbw Huaritz 13
A Muzumdab batting 50
V Kambli lbw Watson 26
Extras: (b4, nb6) 10
Total: (for 4 wkts, in 57.2 overs) 150
Fall of wickets: 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 4-0-11-1, Huaritz 16-1-56-1, Katich 3-0-18-0, Hodge 2-0-6-0.
