England win second tour match

Bloemfontein: England secured the second win of their South African tour on Monday when they outclassed a Free State/Griqualand West Combination XI by 153 runs at Goodyear Park.

In a match which saw a complete turnaround in the fortunes of the visitors, England's bowling attack overcame a stubborn 79-run fifth wicket stand between Loots Bosman and Finlay Brooker to bowl out the hosts for 222 in their second innings.

For captain Nassar Hussain, it just the tonic for a side that have battled with injury and mediocre form during their opening three matches.

``Everyone contributed and of course, a key man like Darren Gough also came through," Hussain said. "Everyone should a bit of form which, of course, is a good sign."

But Hussain had a word of caution. "We must remember this is only a first class game," Hussain said. "In two weeks time we come up against a seriously good side (South Africa) on their home patch which is a completely different level."

On Monday, Brooker scored a gutsy 56 off 149 balls (5x4) and Bosman 40 off 77 balls (7x4) and, along with a rain delay which robbed the day of 12 overs, England looked set to be denied victory.

But 15 minutes before tea, spinner Michael Vaughan bowled Brooker and seamer Allan Mullally trapped Bosman lbw to reduce the host to 183 for six.

Paceman Darren Gough and Phil Tufnell then proceeded to wrap up the tail. Gough, showing superb form in only his second match since an injury-enforced lay-off in mid-July, finished with two for 52 in 19 overs and Tufnell three for 27 in 17 overs.

Earlier, England grabbed four wickets in the first session thanks to a superb opening spell by Hamilton. Hamilton took two for 15 before lunch, as the hosts battled to 89 for four.

After just four overs of the morning session, Gough took the first wicket when he clean bowled Martyn Gidley for 11. Five overs later first innings hero Gerhardus Liebenberg holed out to Darren Maddy at point off Hamilton as the hosts fell to 53 for three.

Piet Barnard fell 20 runs later, clean bowled by a corker of a delivery from Hamilton, before Morne van Wyk was caught at silly point off Phil Tufnell.

England play their next match against a strong Gauteng/Northerns Titans Combination XI at Centurion Park starting Friday. The first Test starts in Johannesburg the following Thursday.