Butchering the attack
England takes 342-run lead against weakened Aussie team
Posted: Monday December 21, 1998 12:45 PM
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Butcher (left) and Crawley put on 118 for the first wicket Laurence Griffiths/Allsport |
HOBART, Australia (Reuters) -- England held a lead of 342 runs as Mark Butcher led the way in the tourists' second innings at the close of play on the third day of its four-day cricket match against the Australian XI on Monday.
England was 166 for two, with Butcher unbeaten on 85, against an injury-weakened Australian XI attack.
The home side had earlier declared its first innings at 293 for four, leaving them 176 runs behind after England opened with 469 for six declared.
At the crease with Butcher at the close was Dominic Cork, yet to score.
John Crawley returned to some welcome form for England with 63 before falling lbw to Darren Lehmann, who was named earlier on Monday in the Australian side for the fourth Ashes test, starting in Melbourne on December 26.
Butcher and Crawley put on 118 for the first wicket, with Ben Hollioake failing once again, out for 17 with the score on 164.
Earlier, Australian XI captain Lehmann declared the home side's first innings just after the tea interval in an effort to breathe life into a match that has been dominated by the bat.
Greg Blewett top-scored with an unbeaten 169, including 15 fours, for the Australians, who resumed at 30 without loss.
Opening partner Matthew Elliott made 81, with the pair putting on 206 for the first wicket before Elliott was caught off the bowling of Hollioake, one of two wickets for the Englishman.
Corey Richards (0) and Darren Lehmann (4) then fell for the addition of just six runs, before Stuart Law (21) steadied the innings.
Lehmann, delighted to be back in the test team, was unperturbed by his failure with the bat.
"I just went out to play cricket and have some fun," said Lehmann, caught by Mike Atherton off the bowling of Dominic Cork. "I played a bad shot. That's life."
The Australian XI was weakened by injuries to three of its bowlers during England's first innings Saturday.
Copyright 2003 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved.
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