England squeeze home by eight runs at Cardiff

Michael Vaughan's first game as England one-day captain ended with a narrow 8-run win over a typically spirited Welsh side. However, apart from a few good efforts with the bat from new boys Anthony McGrath - who later went off injured - and Rikki Clarke, England's performance as a whole was anything but reassuring ahead of next week's NatWest Challenge.

The tight winning margin reflected what a close game it was and there wasn't much to choose between the two teams in a see-saw match. Vaughan won the first toss of his captaincy and chose to bat first, but that was where his luck finished.

His own form with the bat ahead of a busy summer continues to be a worry, and he was one of three quick wickets for Wales's adopted Australian Michael Kasprowicz, all lbw. Vaughan went for only 2 from 18 balls, and Jim Troughton, in his first innings in England colurs, lasted four balls before was trapped for no score. Andrew Flintoff then completed the set to leave England reeling on 44 for 4.

One saving grace for them was that Marcus Trescothick was still in there scrapping, and when he was bowled by Robert Croft round his legs for 55, the new faces of McGrath and Clarke stamped some much-needed authourity on the game. McGrath continued his good international form with 50 from 60 balls, and Clarke hit a stylish 46 before he was run out.

Clarke departed with England still in some trouble on 193 for 8, but Kabir Ali (25*) and Darren Gough (26*) came to England's rescue to bump them up to respectable score after an embarrassing collapse looked likely after Kasprowicz's earlier heroics.

Chasing 236, Robert Croft, who has a liking for this fixture after his 30 from 26 balls last year, again led from the front with a composed 59. After two early run outs, Croft and David Hemp (38) steadied the innings and while they were both there, a successive win for Wales in this fixture was on the cards. However, Ashley Giles, the pick of the England bowlers with 2 for 39, then got England back in the game when he removed them both in quick succession. And despite brave efforts from Adrian Dale (25) and the lower-order, Wales ran out of wickets with eight balls to spare.

England will be pleased with the win and that Darren Gough bowled a full 10 overs, but won't be so chuffed after McGrath collided with an advertising board and had to leave the pitch.

It was revenge for England, but not particularly sweet.