England A collected more bonus points today after skipper Mark Alleyne made
his first half-century in the Busta Cup against Windward Islands in St
Lucia.

Mark
Alleyne Photo CricInfo
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His innings gave England A a lead of 79 runs over their opponents but
weather permitting, they will have to double their total from 208 for six
tomorrow to gain the outright win they need from this match to make sure of
their semi-final place.
More rain fell over the Mindoo Phillip ground in Castries allowing just 76
overs to be bowled on the second day and it was an offer of bad light that
finally forced Alleyne and his partner Chris Read off the field with another
rain-affected day forecast tomorrow.
Alleyne's 50 came off 97 balls and included three fours and a big six pulled
through mid-wicket off pace bowler Fernix Thomas, who later retired hurt
after dropping the ball and falling onto it, twisting his knee in the
process.
Not only did his innings signal a welcome return to form for the captain but
it also brought stability to England A's middle order after a rocky start to
their reply which at one point saw the tourists struggling at 69 for four.
Ian Ward showed he is not invincible when trying to dig out a yorker from
Shane Shillingford, he was bowled having made 25 and John Crawley who looked
set fair for a big score was caught behind for 23 off the main strike bowler
Thomas.
Usman Afzaal was run out by a fine return throw from cover and Chris
Schofield, having provided a contrasting style to the smooth and steady
Alleyne to form a useful 45-run partnership, was bowled to leave England A
five wickets down and still 16 runs short of the 130 target needed for first
innings bonus points.
But Graeme Swann, who had earlier taken the last three Windward wickets in
15 deliveries to wrap up the innings for 129, joined Alleyne and played with
calm assurance. With a drive through extra cover for four, he took England A
past the target and from that point on, the runs started to flow more
easily.
He pulled Deighton Butler over mid-wicket for six and picked off quick
singles to rattle up 48 runs propelling his side towards 200 but two runs
short of his half-century, he received a delivery from spinner Orlanzo Jackson
that was pushed to silly mid off. The umpire raised his finger and Swann
departed though was later surprised to find he had been adjudged lbw rather
than caught.
"It's gone well today," said Swann who joined the tour three weeks ago in
Grenada after his county colleague Jason Brown left to take up England duty
in Sri Lanka.
"It was good to get those quick wickets this morning and then get some runs
on the board this afternoon. I haven't bowled that well on this tour,
compared to how I can bowl, but I'm pretty happy with the way things are
going. It was good to get a five-for and mop up the tail.
"I didn't realise I was two runs of a half-century until I came off the
field. But I felt good when I was batting and it was a shame to find I had
been given out leg before but it is just one of those things."
"It started well this morning but we didn't start well with the bat but
rallied around at the end to finish 79 ahead which is a good position to be
in. We have a good chance of winning now if we can push on tomorrow and get
200 ahead perhaps.
"The way we have been bowling sides out means we can back ourselves to win
this game," Swann said.