Cricket: Tourists hit by Flower power

England A 267 President's XI 382-5

THE ZIMBABWEAN Test brothers Grant and Andy Flower both hit centuries for the Zimbabwe Cricket Union President's XI against England A, on a disappointing second day of the tourists' opening match yesterday. The Flowers took it in turns to punish the England bowlers and by the end of the day had built up a score of 382 for 5 for the home side.

England A had hoped the match would be dominated by their spin attack, but Grant Flower and Murray Goodwin, resuming on 40 for 1 in reply to England's first-innings score of 267, took advantage of some erratic English seam bowling. It was not until Darren Thomas was introduced that England made a breakthrough.

Thomas dropped his second ball short and Goodwin attempted the hook, only for Matt Windows to hold on to a spectacular catch. Andy Flower then joined his brother at the crease and the partnership assumed a relentless momentum.

Grant Flower reached 130 before playing onto his stumps after a short ball from Thomas. His innings included 19 fours and a six. Andy Flower was joined by the 21-year-old Dirk Viljoen, and the pair added 140 for the fourth wicket before Viljoen was eventually run out for 70. Soon after Greg Lamb was stumped by wicketkeeper Chris Read off the spin bowling of Dean Cosker.

Andy Flower then went on to make the 16th hundred of his first-class career, with eight fours and a six along the way.

Second day; England won toss

ENGLAND A - First Innings 267 (M G Windows 69, A Flintoff 61).

PRESIDENT'S XI - First Innings

(overnight 40 for 1)

G W Flower b Thomas 130

M W Goodwin c Windows b Thomas 13

*A Flower not out 139

D P Viljoen run out (Lewry) 70

G L Lamb st Read b Cosker 1

D J Peacock not out 2

Extras (lb15, w3, nb9) 27

Total (for 5, 112 overs) 382

Fall: 1-6, 2-86, 3-211, 4-351, 5-368.

To Bat: A J MacKay; C T Gurr; M Mbangwa; B W S Pswarayi.

Bowling: Lewry 9-2-43-1; Harmison 20-6-62-0 Cosker 23-3-73-1; Swann 30- 2-97-0; Thomas 19-3-56-2; Flintoff 7-0-17-0; Windows 2-0-7-0; Vaughan 2-0-12-0.

Umpires: K Kanjee and M Esat.