England completed their preparations for the opening Test with a convincing innings and 85-runs victory over the Vice Chancellor’s XI.
The hosts started their second innings 155 runs adrift shortly before tea on the second day and slumped to 70 all out to earn England a timely triumph five days before the start of the first Test against the West Indies.
Yorkshire’s Matthew Hoggard, fighting for one of the three seamer roles in the Test line-up, all but cemented his place with three further wickets while Ashley Giles’s important role in the forthcoming four-Test series was underlined with another three-wicket display. Simon Jones also continued his comeback by claiming three for three in two overs.
It rounded off an impressive display from England, whose Test chances were further enhanced by Graham Thorpe’s recovery from a back problem to score a determined half-century while Mark Butcher has made progress after spraining his left ankle ligaments on Tuesday.
‘The two games have been very good for us because the guys have got out there and had a good bat and the bowlers have had to work hard for their wickets,’ enthused coach Duncan Fletcher.
England’s upturn in fortunes started even before the start of play with the sight of Butcher, rated as ‘extremely doubtful’ after he sustained the injury during the drawn match against Jamaica, jogging tentatively around the outfield for the first time.
Fletcher still only rates him as ’40-60′ for the Test, but the sight of Butcher on the comeback trail and Thorpe’s return was an early fillip for the tourists when they resumed their first innings on 152 for two.
After the interval Thorpe showed his class to score a superb 55, including seven boundaries, to help guide England to a lead of 155 before they were dismissed for 274 and prove his fitness for the Test.
While he may have concerns about the fitness of his top order, Fletcher’s bowlers certainly looked in good order with every member of the attack except Flintoff, whose contribution with the ball is being closely monitored to prevent him being over-burdened, claiming wickets during the match.
Tags: Butcher, Cricket, Doubtful, Looks, Thorpe
