Cricket: Alleyne sets up country victory

England XI 281-7 Queensland Country XI 228 England XI win by 53 runs

MARK ALLEYNE picked up three wickets to add to a half-century with the bat as England's one-day side completed a comfortable 53-run victory over Queensland Country in Brisbane.

Alleyne, the Gloucestershire captain, struck an unbeaten 52 as England racked up 281 for 7 from their 50 overs, and he then took 3 for 31 to halt the hosts' progress. The captain Adam Hollioake, overlooked for the Ashes series, top-scored for England with 81 from 78 balls after his younger brother Ben had made 51 batting at No 3.

The opener Nick Knight (6), Neil Fairbrother (0) and Mark Ealham (1) all missed out but there were handy contributions from Vince Wells (26), John Crawley (19) and Robert Croft (12 not out).

The Country side, made up of part-timers from rural Australia, reached 86 for 1 after 22 overs but were unable to maintain the chase against England's disciplined attack and were all out for 228.

It was a useful all-round performance by England in the first of their warm-up matches ahead of the triangular series with Australia and Sri Lanka.

ENGLAND XI

N V Knight run out 6

V J Wells c W Smith b B Smith 26

B C Hollioake b Toohey 51

J P Crawley c Frakes b W Smith 19

N H Fairbrother b W Smith 0

A J Hollioake c Jesberg b B Smith 81

M W Alleyne not out 52

M A Ealham c Else b B Smith 1

R D B Croft not out 12

Extras (b5 lb14 w9 nb5) 33

Total (for 7, 50 overs) 281

Fall: 1-26, 2-49, 3-83, 4-83, 5-146, 6-236, 7-238.

Did not bat: A Giles, G Hamilton.

Bowling: Schossow 8-0-64-0 (nb2 w4), B.Smith 8-1-39-3 (nb-2 w-1), Jesburg 10-1-38-0 (nb1 w3), W Smith 7-0-33-2, L Wilson 5-0-26-0, Toohey 9-0-46- 1 (w1), Rynne 3-0-16-0.

QUEENSLAND COUNTRY XI

D Todd c Hamilton b Giles 42

D Else c Crawley b Hamilton 0

B May st Crawley b Croft 59

D Frakes lbw b Croft 9

S Rynne not out 44

C Window lbw b Alleyne 6

C Jesburg c Crawley b Alleyne 7

P Toohey c Crawley b A Hollioake 7

W Smith c B Hollioake b Alleyne 22

G Schossow c Giles b Wells 7

B Smith b Wells 0

Extras (lb14 w7 nb4) 25

Total (49.5 overs) 228

Fall: 1-1, 2-86, 3-112, 4-139, 5-150, 6-160, 7-167, 8-197, 9-226.

Bowling: B Hollioake 5-1-20-0 (w1 nb1); Hamilton 5-0-18-1 (w3 nb-1); Ealham 9-1-35-0; Giles 9-0-26-1 (w2); Croft 7-0-28-2; Wells 5.5-0-31-2 (w1); Alleyne 5-0-31-3, A Hollioake 4-0-25-1 (nb2).