Mumbai limp to draw with Australians

Australians 302 for 7 dec and 207 for 1 (Langer 108 retired, Clarke 52) drew with Mumbai 255 (Muzumdar 52)
Scorecard

Glenn McGrath produced an immaculate spell of fast bowling as the Australians completed a satisfying workout ahead of the first Test, which starts in Bangalore in four days' time. McGrath engineered the Mumbai collapse, as they were dismissed for 255. Justin Langer and Michael Clarke then enjoyed some good batting practice in the final two sessions for Australia, Langer helping himself to a confidence-boosting hundred as the match petered out in to a draw.

McGrath bowled like a robot which had been programmed to track a line a few inches outside off stump. He repeated the sequence mechanically for 21.2 overs, more than any other bowler. He dismissed the two top-scorers with dart-straight incutters, and he also had some very confident appeals turned down.

As if that wasn't enough, the only boundary that he conceded was in the 22nd over, and this was by the No. 11, Aavishkar Salvi, who was going for broke. One ball later, McGrath restored the natural order by rattling his stumps.

Mumbai resumed at 150 for 4, but Amol Muzumdar soon fell prey to McGrath's accuracy. Continuing to bowl in the narrow channel around off stump, McGrath moved a few balls away before slipping one through which cut in. It was almost a replay of Wasim Jaffer's wicket last evening, as Muzumdar, who had made 52, was trapped plumb in front (152 for 5).

Both Brett Lee and Shane Watson fed off McGrath's discipline, and snapped up a wicket apiece this morning. Unlike yesterday, when Lee allowed the batsmen to let a number of balls go untouched, he struck to a much straighter line and was rewarded in his first over, when Sairaj Bahutule nicked a full-length ball to Adam Gilchrist behind the stumps (179 for 7).

After surviving a huge appeal for lbw first ball, Ajit Agarkar went about redeeming his batting reputation against the Australians. Swishing around for a 48-ball 37, Agarkar handled the fast bowlers with composure and hammered the spinners when they dropped short. He fell trying to loft Clarke over the infield, and McGrath accepted the catch at mid-on (213 for 8). Lee and McGrath wrapped up the innings shortly after lunch and Mumbai finished on 255, with a deficit of 47.

That margin increased by 207 before stumps were drawn, as Langer and Clarke made amends for their first-innings failures. Langer was nearly out to his bogeyman, Agarkar, who has dismissed him six times in Tests. And sure enough, Agarkar was up to his tricks again today, as he beat the bat on a couple of occasions before a confident appeal for caught behind was turned down.

Amid all that, Langer smacked a few fours to the on side and went after the spinners at the slightest opportunity. A few fine sweeps and dabs were interspersed with some crisp lofted drives, as he raced to his fifty in 63 balls. The next half was relatively subdued, with Clarke shifting gear at the other end, as Langer strolled to his hundred towards the end of the day. With a few overs to go, he retired and Simon Katich had a short stint in the middle.

Just as Damien Martyn had done in the first innings, Clarke caressed the ball to all parts. His quicksilver footwork was a delight to watch and, like Langer, he brought up his fifty in 63 balls. He was dismissed by Ramesh Powar soon after, as he was deceived by one that turned sharply and the short-leg fielder accepted a simple catch (142 for 1).

This impressive knock will probably propel Clarke into the final XI for Bangalore, and his masterful footwork could pose problems for the Indian spinners. Barring Watson, all the other batsmen spent sufficient time in the middle, and Katich remains the favourite to grab the No. 3 spot.

But the biggest plus will surely be the form of McGrath, who showed that his spanking at the hands of England in the Champions Trophy was a mere aberration. With Jason Gillespie alongside him, and Michael Kasprowicz and Shane Warne backing them up, McGrath might just turn out to be a deadly proposition. October 6 can't come soon enough.