Cricket: Thorpe and Moxon hold back tide

England A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .152 and 136-6

South Australia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .308-8 dec

THE coldest day in Adelaide since 1954 was matched yesterday by one of the bleakest batting displays by an England touring team in Australia.

England A struggled to a second-innings total of 136 for 6 from 83 overs against South Australia when torrential rain drove the players off an hour before the scheduled close on the third day at the Adelaide Oval.

England A, bowled out for 152 on the first day, are still 20 runs behind South Australia's first-innings total with something special needed on the final day if they are to avoid defeat against the Sheffield Shield's weakest team.

A third-wicket partnership of 89 in just over two hours by Martyn Moxon and Graham Thorpe gave England hope, but without their contributions the match would have finished a day early.

(Third day of four: England A won toss)

ENGLAND A - First Innings 152 (D Reeves

4-57).

SOUTH AUSTRALIA - First Innings 308 for 8 dec (J D Siddons 74; D J Capel 4-72).

ENGLAND A - Second Innings

(Overnight: 12 for 0)

T C Middleton lbw b Wigney . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10

M A Roseberry lbw b Hickey. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5

* M D Moxon c Wigney b Sleep . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .62

G P Thorpe b McIntyre. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .39

M N Lathwell b Brayshaw . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6

D J Capel c Siddons b McIntyre . . . . . . . . . . . . . .0

] R C Russell not out . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8

D G Cork not out. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .0

Extras (lb4 nb2). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6

Total (for 6). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 136

Fall: 1-12 2-26 3-115 4-123 5-124 6-136.

To bat: D J Millns, M C Ilott, P M Such.

Bowling (to date): Reeves 15-2-39-0; Wigney 14-6-15-1; Hickey 13-2-31-1; Sleep 26-12-32-1; McIntyre 14-8-15-2; Brayshaw 1-1-0-1.