Date:23/10/2002 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2002/10/23/stories/2002102301922200.htm

Sport - Cricket

England loses tour opener

Perth Oct. 22. All-rounder Kade Harvey led an Australian Cricket Board Chairman's XI assault on England's bowling on Tuesday, leading his side to 301 for seven and a 58-run win in a one-day tour match at Lilac Hill.

Harvey hit 114 off just 88 balls. He and captain Michael Hussey (69) put on 152 runs for the sixth wicket to set up the hefty total for the visitors. Harvey hit 10 fours and six sixes.

England was then bowled out for 243 in 48.5 overs with Robert Key top scoring with 68 runs and captain Nasser Hussain adding 65. The tourists started poorly with fast bowler Matthew Hoggard opening the match with two wides.

Fast bowler Stephen Harmison set an early scare through the England camp after appearing to injure his knee trying to stop a four in the second over. He left the field but returned just two overs later only to bowl 16 wides for the innings.

Left-handed West Australian opening pair Chris Rogers and Marcus North had a 57-run opening partnership before Hoggard had North (22) out lofting a simple catch to Hussain at cover.

Just 12 runs later, Glamorgan's Simon Jones made an instant impact with his first ball of the tour, forcing Rogers (30) to prod a simple catch to John Crawley at gully.

England spinner Ashley Giles then slowed the Australian run count with three wickets as the home team slumped to 122 for five.

Giles picked up Ryan Campbell (14) and Brad Hogg (0) in one over before having former Test batsman David Hookes caught on the boundary after the Victorian state coach had hit him for a six in the same over. Hussey and Harvey resurrected the innings before Hussey became Jones' second victim.

England plays Western Australia in a two-day match at the WACA Ground in Perth starting on Thursday ahead of the five-Test Ashes series starting next month. AP

Brief scores: ACB Chairman's XI: 304 for seven (C. Rogers 30, M. Hussey 69, K. Harvey 114; A. Giles three for fifty nine) bt England 243 in 48.5 overs (R. Key 68, N. Hussain 65, A. Stewart 35, B. Hogg five for 33)