da heads bet： Bloemfontein: England secured the second win of their South Africantour on Monday when they outclassed a Free State/Griqualand WestCombination XI by 153 runs at Goodyear Park
Michael Finch16-Nov-1999Bloemfontein: England secured the second win of their South Africantour on Monday when they outclassed a Free State/Griqualand WestCombination XI by 153 runs at Goodyear Park.In a match which saw a complete turnaround in the fortunes of thevisitors, England’s bowling attack overcame a stubborn 79-run fifthwicket stand between Loots Bosman and Finlay Brooker to bowl out thehosts for 222 in their second innings.For captain Nassar Hussain, it just the tonic for a side that havebattled with injury and mediocre form during their opening threematches.“Everyone contributed and of course, a key man like Darren Gough alsocame through,” Hussain said. “Everyone should a bit of form which, ofcourse, is a good sign.”But Hussain had a word of caution. “We must remember this is only afirst class game,” Hussain said. “In two weeks time we come up againsta seriously good side (South Africa) on their home patch which is acompletely different level.”On Monday, Brooker scored a gutsy 56 off 149 balls (5×4) and Bosman 40off 77 balls (7×4) and, along with a rain delay which robbed the dayof 12 overs, England looked set to be denied victory.But 15 minutes before tea, spinner Michael Vaughan bowled Brooker andseamer Allan Mullally trapped Bosman lbw to reduce the host to 183 forsix.Paceman Darren Gough and Phil Tufnell then proceeded to wrap up thetail. Gough, showing superb form in only his second match since aninjury-enforced lay-off in mid-July, finished with two for 52 in 19overs and Tufnell three for 27 in 17 overs.Earlier, England grabbed four wickets in the first session thanks to asuperb opening spell by Hamilton. Hamilton took two for 15 beforelunch, as the hosts battled to 89 for four.After just four overs of the morning session, Gough took the firstwicket when he clean bowled Martyn Gidley for 11. Five overs laterfirst innings hero Gerhardus Liebenberg holed out to Darren Maddy atpoint off Hamilton as the hosts fell to 53 for three.Piet Barnard fell 20 runs later, clean bowled by a corker of adelivery from Hamilton, before Morne van Wyk was caught at silly pointoff Phil Tufnell.England play their next match against a strong Gauteng/NorthernsTitans Combination XI at Centurion Park starting Friday. The firstTest starts in Johannesburg the following Thursday.