Cricket: Chapple reveals Victorian value

The England A tour to Australia is beginning to go from good to excellent. The latest success story saw the Lancashire pace bowler Glen Chapple scythe through the Victoria batting line-up at the Melbourne Cricket Ground to leave Adam Hollioake in the happy position of being able to ask his opponents to follow on.

Small wonder, then, that the coach Mike Gatting was impressed by the way his charges had played. "It was a pretty flat wicket and there was some good, disciplined bowling out there today and the fielding was excellent," he said. "Glen needed a long bowl - he got that and he's looked better for it."

Victoria, who began the day on 30 without loss in response to England's first innings of 438, ended their reply on 211 for nine as their captain, Tony Dodemaide, was unable to resume batting after breaking his right index finger.

Their openers were still together in the second innings with 20 on the board at the close, still 207 runs adrift of avoiding an innings defeat. They needed a day-long defensive action to prevent the tourists claiming a comprehensive victory.

Chapple was the leading England figure, taking four for 43. Craig White, who had been involved in an angry flare-up with the Victorian quick bowler, David Suker, before falling the very next delivery one short of his century the previous day, claimed two wickets in two balls.

For Victoria, only Laurie Harper (63) and Peter Roach (28) provided significant resistance, defying England's attack for 31 overs in a crucial 67-run partnership.