CRICKET : McGrath puts bad times behind him

ACT 216; England A 295-5

Anthony McGrath became the first England A player to score a century on the tour of Australia against the Australian Capital Territory during the second day of their match here yesterday.

The Yorkshireman, who had scored 96 runs in his six previous tour innings, hit 108 before falling just before the close as England established a 79-run lead.

McGrath conquered the inconsistent bounce and turn and shared partnerships of 64 and 96 with Owais Shah and Craig White respectively.

Second day of four; ACT won toss

ACT - First Innings

(Overnight: 212 for 8)

H O'Meagher not out 7

B J Smith c Chapple b Such 9

D J Thornton b Such 0

Extras (b3, lb12, w4) 19

Total (98.3 overs) 216

Fall (cont): 9-214.

Bowling: Chapple 16-1-43-2; Harris 11-3-28-0; Hollioake 5-2-22-0; White 15-3-49-2; Giles 18-7-27-1; Such 32.3-21-29-5; McGrath 1-0-3-0.

ENGLAND A - First Innings

M A Butcher c O'Meagher b Smith 29

M P Vaughan lbw b Smith 40

A McGrath c Solway b Thornton 108

O A Shah c Robinson b Mackenzie 23

C White b McDonald 53

*A J Hollioake not out 31

W K Hegg not out 0

Extras (b2, lb3, nb6) 11

Total (for 5, 86 overs) 295

Fall: 1-61, 2-85, 3-149, 4-283.

To bat: A F Giles, G Chapple, A J Harris, P M Such.

Bowling: Smith 19-3-59-2; Thornton 16-5-46-1; McDonald 14-1-64-1; O'Meagher 20-6-58-0; Mackenzie 15-4-54-1; Garrity 2-1-9-0.

Umpires: B Thornton and J Hanniford.