da fezbet： The second warmup game of the Australian tour, against the Ranjitrophy champions Mumbai, commenced at the CCI today
Waleed Hussain in Mumbai22-Feb-2001The second warmup game of the Australian tour, against the Ranjitrophy champions Mumbai, commenced at the CCI today. Mumbai ended thefirst day at 328 for nine off 94 overs. Ramesh Powar (65 not out) andNilesh Kulkarni (14 not out) were at the crease when stumps were drawnon the first day.The momentum of play kept swinging through the day. It was aninteresting day which had the bowlers dominating the first session anda brave fightback from the batsmen in the next one. There were momentswhen it seemed that the hosts would fizzle out under the pressureapplied by the Australian pace attack but skipper Sameer Dighe ledthem with a fighting knock.The ever accurate Glenn McGrath dominated the first session of theday. After the crowds went after the tourists, they were unable tomaintain the pressure mounted early on in the morning. The Mumbai tailwagged to the cheering of the crowds and frustrated the Australianattack. Shane Warne looked less than impressive as most of the batsmengot stuck into him. He went for 81 runs off 19 overs with one wicketto his credit. The highlights of the day were a well made 84 byDighe and an unbeaten 65 by Ramesh Powar in the late order. GlennMcGrath bagged three for 46 and Ricky Ponting picked up two forten. Damien Fleming, Matthew Hayden and Colin Miller picked up onewicket each.Earlier in the day, Mumbai skipper Dighe won the toss and decided tobat on the flat brownish wicket at the CCI in Mumbai. The first sessionof the day was disheartening for the hosts as they lost fourwickets for 78 runs at lunch. Jatin Paranjpe made a valiant effort toresurrect the innings early but failed. Warne accounted for him in thesecond over after lunch. Vinod Kambli soon walked back to the pavilionwithout troubling the scorers.The lunch interval did come as a blessing in disguise for the hosts.After Paranjpe’s dismissal, Dighe found an able partner in SairajBahutule. The duo added a 117 run partnership for the sixth wicket off36.3 overs. The left handed Bahutule scored 51 off 108 balls with sixhits down the fence before being trapped legbefore by Ricky Ponting.After losing Bahutule, Dighe found another partner in Powar whocame out firing on all cylinders. He raced away to a half-century off49 balls. The duo added 63 runs for the eighth wicket in 13.1 overswith Powar dominating the partnership and taking the pressure offDighe. Bowling with the second new ball Fleming spelled doom forDighe, when in a lapse of concentration he chased an outswinger fromFleming and was caught behind. Dighe scored 84 off 178 balls with 14hits to the fence.The Mumbai tail wagged after Dighe was dismissed, with Paras Mhambreytaking the attack to McGrath, hitting him for three consecutiveboundaries. McGrath came back with a bouncer that was top edged toFleming at fine leg. Mhambrey scored 19 off 13 balls with four hits tothe fence. Mhambrey and Powar added 31 runs for the ninth wicket off3.1 overs.Last man, Nilesh Kulkarni further frustrated the tourists and wasunbeaten at close of play.