Cricket: Schofield begins fight for survival

England A 132 & 95-6 Central Districts 111

THE ENGLAND A batsmen found themselves on the ropes again yesterday as Central Districts hit back on the second morning of their three day game here.

Approaching lunch England had lost six wickets and were only 116 runs ahead with Chris Schofield leading the resistance with 20 not out. In a low scoring game every run from the tail was vital, as the previous day's events had proved.

Then, England A had been bowled out for 132, then demolished Central Districts for 111. If this had been a championship match in England, the pitch inspector would have been on his way to the ground before lunch. With England A 76 for 7, there was every chance they would not make three figures. However, an eighth-wicket partnership of 50, followed by the cheap dismissal of Central Districts , put England back in the game.

Ian Ward and Marcus Trescothick had easily negotiated the first 11 overs until Ward was trapped leg before to Mike Mason. With his first ball the left-arm seamer Lance Hamilton had Trescothick caught behind for 13. Two balls later he bowled David Sales for a duck while next ball Rob Turner was also out leg before for 0. Vikram Solanki departed after contributing 11 runs, and England A were 47 for 5.

The captain Mark Alleyne (14) and Schofield (13) delayed the decline before Schofield was out to a loose shot before lunch, followed next ball by Alleyne. When Alamgir Sheriyar went, England A had been bowled out in under 50 overs.

But the fightback started immediately, with Sheriyar the pick of the England bowlers with five wickets.

Second day of three; Central Districts won toss

ENGLAND A - First Innings

I J Ward lbw b Mason 12

M E Trescothick c Sigley b Hamilton 13

V S Solanki c Spearman b Hamilton 11

D J G Sales b Hamilton 0

R J Turner lbw b Hamilton 0

*M W Alleyne c Sulzberger b Oram 14

C P Schofield c Sigley b Mason 13

P J Franks lbw b Craik 19

S D Thomas c Sigley b Furlong 31

M K Davies not out 2

A Sheriyar b Furlong 4

Extras (b1, lb2, nb10) 13

Total (48.2 overs) 132

Fall: 1-28, 2-38, 3-39, 4-39, 5-47, 6-76, 7-76, 8-126, 9-126.

Bowling: Mason 13-2-43-2; Hamilton 14-3-38-4; Craik 15-5-26-1; Oram 4- 1-11-1; Furlong 2.2-1-11-2.

CENTRAL DISTRICTS - First Innings

D P Kelly b Alleyne 27

C S Milnes lbw b Sheriyar 0

*C M Spearman lbw b Sheriyar 8

G P Sulzberger c Sales b Thomas 26

M W Douglas run out 2

J D R Oram c Turner b Franks 19

M A Sigley b Franks 21

C J M Furlong b Sheriyar 2

M J Mason c Turner b Sheriyar 0

L J Hamilton c Sales b Sheriyar 0

E Craik not out 2

Extras (nb4) 4

Total (5.3 overs) 111

Fall: 1-0, 2-10, 3-62, 4-64, 5-70, 6-103, 7-109, 8-109, 9-109.

Bowling: Franks 12-6-18-2; Sheriyar 10.3-2-35-5; Thomas 11-3-26-1; Davies 2-0-7-0; Alleyne 10-3-25-1.

ENGLAND A - Second Innings

I J Ward c Furlong b Hamilton 9

M E Trescothick c Spearman

b Mason 25

V S Solanki c Mason b Hamilton 0

D J G Sales c Spearman b Mason 0

R J Turner c Furlong b Mason 24

M W Alleyne b Hamilton 5

C P Schofield not out 20

P J Franks not out 3

Extras (lb8, nb1) 9

Total (for 6, 29 overs) 95

Fall: 1-37, 2-37, 3-37, 4-40, 5-51, 6-83.

To Bat: S D Thomas, M K Davies, A Sheriyar.

Umpires: R D Anderson and M George.