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DEAR REDIFF

Aussies 305/8 against Bombay

Australian opener Michael Slater today celebrated his return to the national team but missed his hundred by two runs as the visitors, playing positive cricket, were 305 for eight at close on the first day's play of their opening match against Ranji champions Bombay here at the Brabourne stadium.

The kangaroos kept the tempo with Greg Blewett making 47 and Ricky Ponting scoring a speedy 53. Slater was brilliantly stumped by Bombay wicket-keeper Sulakshan Kulkarni for 98 when he missed the day's young star, 18-year-old leg-spinner Rajesh Sutar.

Aussie skipper Mark Taylor won the toss and elected to bat, himself getting into the usual rut, ekeing out five runs in a stay of 62 minutes. But there was a long drought of wickets thereafter and the rivals went to lunch at 103 for one, owing to the strong support Greg Blewett provided Slater.

Blewett and Slater overcame a difficult spell by Bombay fast bowlers Paras Mhambrey and Abey Kuruvilla to post 107 runs off 32.2 overs. Blewett fell to a smart piece of work by wicket-keeper Kulkarni but it was part time off-spinner Rajesh Pawar who provided the break.

Pawar struck the second post lunch blow to dismiss Darren Lehmann for three. Ian Healy, however, joined Ponting in 64 runs stand off 19.4 overs to take his side past 200. In the last over of the day Pawar foxed Gavin Robertson who was at 15 at the time. Pawar finished with three for 59 and his senior spin partner, Nilesh Kulkarni Hada, ended with figures of two for 108.

Taylor, who said before the match that his concentration is coming back after a string of low scores, was unable to prove it while facing the 40 balls he did. He was ready for a cut when a Kulkarni delivery spun more than he expected hit his left pad and fell onto the stumps.

His wicket fell at 45, with the bulk scored by Slater, who also looked uncertain. Slater, whose hot chance was not not accepted at 91 near short cover by a substitute fielder off Kulkarni, had got many edges against the pace bowlers.

But the spinners came on, he was ready to leave the crease and loft the ball. Slater had missed a place during the crowded home international season and was also left out of the squad in the six Tests in England early this year.

He had hit 12 fours and played for 217 minutes when he, for once, missed Pawar's line and Kulkarni brought back the ball one-handed quickly from wide off the stumps.

Blewett also got into form in the first match with seven fours. His end came when Bombay skipper Sachin Tendulkar brought a surprise change. Sutar, who rarely bowls for his club, got Blewett in his third over. His deliberately wide delivery beat the advancing batsman. Kulkarni collected the ball wide and threw himself on the stumps.

Pawar, probably the shortest spinner playing in domestic season in the country, had toured South Africa early last month for the world cup but was not considered for a single match. The tall Nilesh Kulkarni, trying to get his place back into the national squad, also bowled well.

It was Pawar who pushed back the Australians with his two wickets in five balls. After removing Slater, he went for the bearded Lehmann. The left-hander, a one-day success, had no clue about the curving deliveries that dropped at good length and either straightened or took a nick. One such ball kept low and he was adjudged plumb leg before.

But Ponting, who also survived a chance at 22, found the reliable Ian Healy to stay with him. Ponting could not make headway against the spinners but his ability to play fast bowling was in no doubt. He was caught at short fine leg when he tried to break loose. He lasted 76 balls and hit seven fours. Healy and Paul Rieffel carried on well and the latter showed he is no mean bat.

Healy was deceived by Kuruvilla's slower ball for at 27 and Rieffel was leg before to Sutar for 30. Gavin Robertson was stumped, going forward to Pawar at 15. Australia - Scoreboard:

Australia First Innings:
M Slater st. S Kulkarni b Pawar 98
M Taylor b N Kulkarni 5
G Blewett st. S Kulkarni b Sutar 47
R Ponting c Muzumdar b N Kulkarni 53
D Lehmann lbw b Pawar 3
I Healy c Pagnis b Kuruvilla 27
P Reiffel lbw b Sutar 30
G Robertson st. Kulkarni b Pawar 15
S Warne batting 11
Extras : (five b, six lb, five nb) 16
Total 305 for 8 (89.5 overs)
Fall of Wickets : 1/45, 2/152, 3/173, 4/181, 5/245, 6/249

Bowling:
Kuruvilla 14-1-51-1
Mhambrey 15-4-44-0
Kulkarni 32-5-108-2
Pawar 20.5-5-59-3
Sutar 8-1-32-2