Cricket: Sales' solid work eroded in the field

England A 336 North Island 228-3

DAVID SALES set England A on the way to a successful second day of four against North Island here yesterday only to see much of his good work eroded as the tourists struggled to press home their advantage.

The Northamptonshire batsman, who made 115, was largely responsible for extending his team's innings to 336. He scored 50 of the 61 runs added in the morning and reached his century off 161 balls before being last out when he was bowled round his legs by the leg-spinner Brooke Walker. Walker also took the two other wickets to fall - Paul Franks caught at short midwicket and James Kirtley lbw.

Franks and Kirtley were soon back in action with the ball and quickly dismissed both the home openers - Matthew Bell and Blair Pocock, who both have international experience - with only 13 on the board.

But after lunch Matthew Sinclair and Lou Vincent established themselves to compile a century partnership for the third wicket. The England fielders were convinced they had Sinclair out shortly after he reached his 50 when Rob Turner claimed a catch behind off leg-spinner Chris Schofield but the umpire remained unmoved.

Schofield took Vincent's wicket instead when he was well caught at slip by a diving Vikram Solanki. But James Marshall joined Sinclair, who went on to his hundred as the England bowlers restricted the scoring but were unable to make a breakthrough and North Island ended the day 108 behind.

Second day of four England A won toss

ENGLAND A - First Innings

(Overnight: 275 for 7

D J G Sales b Walker 115

P J Franks c Bell b Walker 9

R J Kirtley c Pocock b Walker 2

M K Davies not out 4

Extras (lb4, nb10) 14

Total (119.3 overs) 336

Fall (cont): 8-303, 9-317.

Bowling: Penn 32-8-92-2; Walmsley 26-4-85-1; Tuffey 21-5-55-2; Jefferson 27-5-62-2; Pocock 4-1-6-0; Walker 9.3-4-32-3.

NORTH ISLAND - First Innings

M D Bell b Franks 0

*B A Pocock lbw b Kirtley 2

M S Sinclair not out 112

L Vincent c Solanki b Schofield 45

J A H Marshall not out 52

Extras (lb1 w1 nb15) 17

Total 3 wkts (88 overs) 228

Fall: 1-0, 2-13, 3-115.

To bat: A J Penn, C J Nevin, B J K Walker, K P Walmsley, D R Tuffey, M R Jefferson.

Bowling: Franks 17-2-63-1; Kirtley 16-4-33-1; Alleyne 13-3-36-0; Davies 19-7-32-0; Schofield 23-7-63-1.

Umpires: D Quested and G Stewart.