Elliott enjoys batting practice

Nottinghamshire 239 Australia 398-5 dec Match drawn

Matthew Elliott and Steve Waugh took advantage of the batting practice available in this rain ruined match at Trent Bridge by scoring large centuries as Australia played out a draw against Nottinghamshire yesterday.

A true contest was impossible after the first day was washed out, and the match ended in similar style when light rain brought an early end with Michael Bevan and Adam Gilchrist unbeaten on 75 and nine, respectively.

Elliott, who has batted consistently well for the tourists so far this summer, hit his second century of the tour, eventually falling for 127, while Waugh, standing in as captain, scored 115 - his highest score in five first-class innings.

Elliott maintained his concentration despite two frustrating rain breaks in the first hour, and put together a flawless 212-ball innings in four- and-a-quarter hours, including 14 boundaries and a six . He was finally undone by Usman Afzaal, bowled as he wandered down the wicket to the left-arm spinner.

Michael Slater, opening, and Ricky Ponting, who came in at No 3, failed to make the most of their opportunity to stake claims for Test call-ups. Slater fell lbw for 14 on Thursday, and Ponting went the same way for 19 off the fifth ball yesterday.

One ball after Ponting's dismissal the rain came and with it the first of the interruptions that frustrated the Australian batsmen.