G-men hit the spot for England

Sunday, March 28, 2004

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (AFP): Graham Thorpe and Geraint Jones both hit half centuries on Saturday as England used the tour match against the Carib Beer XI to get some batting practice ahead of next week's third Test. 

Thorpe and reserve wicket-keeper Jones helped England reach 347 in reply to the Carib Beer XI's first innings total of 129. 

The composite Caribbean team reached 51 for one when stumps were drawn on the second day.

Thorpe hit eight fours and one six in 88 from 184 balls in 3-3/4 hours and Jones smashed five fours and three sixes in 66 off 120 balls in three hours. They shared 117 for the fourth wicket.

Stubborn lower order batting from Rikki Clarke, with 35, and Ashley Giles, with 22, helped to beef up England's total and help them raise 88 from their last four batting partnerships.

Jermaine Lawson, the West Indies fast bowler, who has been sidelined with a back injury and a suspect bowling action, was the leading bowler with four wickets for 94 runs from 29 overs, while spinner Dave Mohammed supported well with three for 114 from 28 overs. 

In 12.3 overs before stumps, the Carib Beer XI lost the wicket of opener Xavier Marshall, caught behind off James Anderson for four, before bad light stopped play.

Scores:

Carib Beer XI 129 (Sylvester Joseph 36, Daren Ganga 25; Matthew Hoggard 4-27, Ashley Giles 2-25, James Anderson 2-30, Rikki Clarke 2- 38) and 51 for one (Sylvester Joseph 25 not out). 

England 347 (Graham Thorpe 88, Geraint Jones 66, Marcus Trescothick 50, Rikki Clarke 35, Ashley Giles 22, Paul Collingwood 20; Jermaine Lawson 4-94, Dave Mohammed 3-114).

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