Spin duo make breakthrough for England

Facing a stronger line-up than the Mumbai Cricket Association side they hammered in Sunday's 12-a-side encounter, the tourists were given a thorough work-out at the Brabourne Stadium.

Graeme Swann and Samit Patel claimed three scalps between them - and despite a stubborn second-wicket partnership, the Nottinghamshire team-mates did enough to boost their chances of selection for Friday's ODI opener in Rajkot.

Tuesday's match gave another opportunity to Lancashire seamer James Anderson to reclaim his place, after being dropped for the Stanford showdown in Antigua.

He impressed in taking three wickets on Sunday, and captured another early one on Tuesday morning when opener Paul Valthaty edged low to Swann at first slip.

Valthaty had already had one reprieve in the first over when he also edged Anderson behind - but wicketkeeper Matt Prior failed to take the chance, diving low to his right.

Steve Harmison was unfortunate not to claim another wicket in the next over when he had two appeals for a catch behind and an lbw shout denied against the other opener, Praful Waghele. But having survived a testing early spell, Waghele grew in confidence and claimed his first boundary with a deft late cut off Harmison.

New batsman Sushant Marathe settled quickly and drove Anderson down the ground for his first boundary - and despite introducing Andrew Flintoff and Swann into the attack, England struggled to break the stand.

It lasted 24 overs until Waghele, attempting to increase the scoring rate, attempted one slog sweep too many and chipped Swann straight to Patel at midwicket.

Patel claimed another success in the next over, with a smart return catch to remove captain Onkar Khanvilkar as England began to make inroads into Mumbai's middle order.