England A poised for sixth success

ACT 216 & 140-4 England A 408

England A moved towards their sixth successive tour victory after being given the benefit of a controversial umpiring decision which enabled them to take control against Australian Capital Territory in Canberra.

The tourists, resuming on 295 for 5, were dismissed for 408 to earn a 192-run first innings lead and by the close they had reduced ACT to 140 for 4.

But it was the dismissal of the ACT skipper, Mike Veletta, which dominated the day's play and put England in a position to claim a convincing victory in today's final day.

Veletta, who had batted nearly two hours for 68 and looked the main threat to the tourists' hopes, edged Hollioake behind to the slip Craig White, who appeared to scoop the ball up for the wicketkeeper Warren Hegg to take a diving catch.

However, Veletta clearly disputed the decision and stood his ground, resulting in the match referee ordering the ACT captain to report for a disciplinary hearing today to answer dissent charges.

Veletta had earlier compiled a 106-run partnership with Paul Evans before the spinner Peter Such, who claimed five wickets in the first innings, began to make a substantial contribution.

Third day of four; ACT won toss

ACT - First Innings 216 (P J Solway 59; P M Such 5-29).

ENGLAND A - First Innings

(Overnight: 295 for 5)

*A J Hollioake c Thornton b Smith 31

W K Hegg b Smith 1

A F Giles b McDonald 22

G Chapple not out 59

A J Harris lbw b Thornton 18

P M Such c Veletta b Smith 8

Extras (b6 lb3 w1 nb6) 16

Total (122 overs) 408

Fall: 1-61 2-85 3-149 4-245 5-283 6-295 7-303 8-332 9-373.

Bowling: Smith 27-5-91-5; Thornton 26-8-77-2; McDonald 18-3-72-2; O'Meagher 25-7-68-0; Mackenzie 22-4-80-1; Garrity 4-1-11-0.

ACT - Second Innings

*M R J Veletta c Hegg b Hollioake 68

P L Evans c Giles b Such 47

P J Solway c Shah b Such 3

B D Hara lbw b Hollioake 13

I A Garrity not out 0

Extras (b1, lb8) 9

Total (for 4, 51.5 overs) 140

Fall: 1-106 2-111 3-138 4-140.

To bat: D J McDonald, H O'Meagher, B J Smith, M B Robinson, D J Thornton, E A Mackenzie.

Bowling: Chapple 5-0-17-0; Harris 7-1-18-0; Such 21-10-39-2; White 5- 2-18-0; Giles 9-1-30-0; Hollioake 4.5-0-9-2.

Umpires: B Thornton and J Hanniford.