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Harmison and Jones demolish VCXI

Saturday, March 6 2004

Stephen Harmison and Simon Jones were both in fine form as England had it all their own way in the first day of the warm up match against the University of the West Indies Vice Chancellor's XI.

The home side competed well in the morning session, as they made it to 78-2 at lunch, however when captain and opening batsman Jason Haynes fell shortly after, bowled off his pads by Jones.

This was the cue for Harmison and Ashley Giles to join Jones on the plate as 88-2 became 95-8 as the combination of Giles' control and accuracy, Jones' pace and Harmison's extra bounce was more than enough to rip the heart out of the hosts' middle order.

The West Indian side, complete with several fringe International players, was on the verge of tumbling for less than three figures until Ryan Cunningham and Darren Sammy forced their way to 119-8, before Jones returned to finish the job, bowling his second and third wickets in consecutive balls.

Jones ended with 3-40, Giles 2-26 off 17 overs whilst Harmison was the definite pick with 4-17 off 11.

Marcus Trescothick's poor tour continued as Jermaine Lawson continued, however Michael Vaughan and Nasser Hussain continued to get stuck in to the West Indian attack, scoring at four an over before Vaughan (66) chipped a catch to Dwayne Bravo off Cunningham having added 149.

Hussain ended unbeaten on 76* with Collingwood 1* as England closed at 152-2.

UWI VC XI 119
JAM Haynes 45, SO Tikolo 23, DJG Sammy 17*
SJ Harmison 4-17, SP Jones 3-40, AF Giles 2-26

England XI 152-2
N Hussain 76*, MP Vaughan 66
RO Cunningham 1-26

Posted by Neil