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| England held in victory chase ![]() Caddick catches Hussey on the boundary Tour match, Perth, final day: England (327 & 130-5) drew with W Australia (213 & 248) England fell five runs short of victory over Western Australia despite a blazing half-century by Robert Key and five wickets for Simon Jones. Needing 135 for victory off just 20 overs, the tourists took up the challenge with gusto. In the chase for quick runs, they lost five wickets, but could still have claimed a memorable win until Alec Stewart was out when 14 were needed off the last 10 balls. Key hit a brilliant 59 not out off 48 balls, with six fours and a six off spinner Brad Hogg. Earlier, Jones picked up figures of five for 78 after an expensive start - his first five-wicket haul in an England shirt. And the hosts lost their last eight wickets for 84 runs in subsiding to 248 all out. The Welshman struck in the fourth over of the day, having Mike Hussey caught in the deep by Andrew Caddick attempting to hook.
After that it was one-way traffic as Langer and Chris Rogers compiled a 141-run third-wicket partnership. A six-over spell from Jones cost 29 runs as Langer hammered 12 boundaries in his superb 68. But Craig White made a double breakthrough in mid-afternoon, and Jones was quick to capitalise. Recalled from grade cricket in Adelaide to provide cover for the injured Andrew Flintoff, White claimed two wickets off successive balls. First to go was Langer, gaining an edge behind as he chased a wider delivery and new batsman Marcus North followed next ball in similar fashion. Brought back into the attack by Trescothick, who was deputising for captain Nasser Hussain while he had a back massage, Jones struck in his first over. Rogers had batted for over three hours to score his 86, hitting 10 boundaries, but was given caught behind off an inside edge while pushing forward. And Jones was aided in cleaning up the tail by a wicket for Ashley Giles and the run-out of Jo Angel.
White, promoted up the order, was run out by a direct throw from Langer, and Hogg took the wickets of Mark Butcher and John Crawley with successive deliveries. The home attack was punished by Key and Stewart in a 41-run partnership that lasted just five overs. But, after conceding 26 runs in 18 deliveries, deamer Matt Nicholson had Stewart caught off a top-edged pull, leaving England to slog in vain. England: Nasser Hussain (captain), Robert Key, Marcus Trescothick, Mark Butcher, John Crawley, Alec Stewart, Craig White, Ashley Giles, Andrew Caddick, Simon Jones, Stephen Harmison. Western Australia: Justin Langer (captain), Mike Hussey, Jo Angel, Ryan Campbell, Brad Hogg, Stuart Karppinen, Scott Meuleman, Matthew Nicholson, Marcus North, Chris Rogers, Brad Williams. |
See also: 29 Oct 02 | The Ashes 28 Oct 02 | The Ashes Top The Ashes stories now: Links to more The Ashes stories are at the foot of the page. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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