Cricket: Thomas on target as England A take charge

England A 455-9 South Island 217 & 139-3

THE GLAMORGAN seamer Darren Thomas underpinned a successful day in the field as England A bowled themselves into a winning position against South Island at Christchurch yesterday.

The tourists finished the third day with their opponents 99 runs in arrears with three second wickets down, having being forced to follow on.

Thomas did much of the damage to the hosts' first innings, finishing with 4 for 56 to hasten South Island to 217.

Gareth Hopkins and Aaron Redmond had put on 65 until the latter was caught behind off Thomas, who then uprooted Warren Wisneski's leg stump with his next ball. Michael Davies also struck twice, bowling Redmond and then snaring Carl Bulfin lbw.

The South Island openers batted with resolution second time round, until Davies had Craig Cumming lbw. Thomas then had Lawson caught by Michael Gough, and Davies dismissed Chris Gaffaney.

Third day of four; England A won toss

ENGLAND A - First Innings 455 for 9 dec (M W Alleyne 152no, I J Ward 60, V S Solanki 59; W A Wisneski 5-98).

SOUTH ISLAND - First Innings

(overnight: 135 for 5)

A J Redmond b Davies 51

G J Hopkins c Turner b Thomas 35

W A Wisneski b Thomas 0

P J Wiseman not out 23

C E Bulfin lbw b Davies 4

C S Martin b Sheriyar 1

Extras (7nb) 7

Total (83.1 overs) 217

Fall (cont): 6-176 7-176 8-195 9-203.

Bowling: Sheriyar 24.1-6-60-3; Thomas 21-2-56-4; Irani 17-7-50-0; Alleyne 11-2-26-1; Davies 10-4-25-2.

SOUTH ISLAND - Second Innings

*R A Lawson c Gough b Thomas 20

C D Cumming lbw b Davies 11

C B Gaffaney c Irani b Davies 29

M H Richardson not out 35

J I Inglefield not out 32

Extras (5lb, 3w, 4nb) 12

Total (for 3; 65 overs) 139

Fall: 1-34, 2-60, 3-76.

To bat: A J Redmond, P J Wiseman, G J Hopkins, C E Bulfin, C S Martin, W A Wisneski.

Bowling: Sheriyar 15-4-26-0; Irani 9-3-17-0; Trescothick 7-3-14-0; Davies 18-8-24-2; Thomas 7-1-29-1; Solanki 6-2-17-0; Alleyne 3-1-7-0.

Umpires: G A Baxter and R S Dunne.