Cricket: Trescothick guides England to win against South Africa

JOHANNESBURG - England openers Marcus Trescothick and Robert Key set up an eight-wicket victory against the Nicky Oppenheimer XI with a 167-run stand in the first match of their South African tour on Wednesday.

The Oppenheimer side made 172 for four in 39 overs after their innings was interrupted by rain for more than two hours. The Duckworth/Lewis formula increased England's target to 185 in 39 overs.

Most of the Oppenheimer batsmen struggled against the disciplined attack, except for Zimbabwe international Neil Johnson, who smashed four sixes in his 58-ball innings of 74.

Matthew Hoggard and Steve Harmison were the most impressive bowlers, with spells of two for 29 in eight overs and one for eight in seven overs respectively.

Trescothick and Key began slowly but were in total command as they made 167 off 180 balls.

Trescothick, the stand-in captain, finished on 85 not out off 107 balls, while Key lashed 87 off 85 balls, with seven fours and five sixes, to lead England to the easy victory.

South Africa

Nicky Oppenheimer XI
A Seymore lbw b Jones 23
F du Plessis c Flintoff b Hoggard 1
N Johnson c Key b Hoggard 74
A Prince c Thorpe b Harmison 26
J Duminy not out 25
W Bossenger not out 18
Extras (lb5) 5
Total (for four wickets, 39 overs) 172
Fall: 15 33 126 127

Did not bat: H Streak, W Coetsee, G Howell, C Willoughby, L Tsotsobe
Bowling: Hoggard 8-3-29-2, Harmison 7-2-8-1, Jones 8-1-47-1,
Flintoff 7-2-30-0, Collingwood 5-1-30-0, Batty 4-0-23-0

England

M Trescothick not out 85
R Key b Tsotsobe 87
M Butcher c Johnson b Willoughby 6
G Thorpe not out 5
Extras (lb2 nb5) 7
Total (for two wickets, 35.3 overs) 190
Fall: 167 175

Did not bat: A Flintoff, P Collingwood, C Read, S Jones, G Batty, M Hoggard, S Harmison
Bowling: Streak 6-1-34-0 (nb-5), Willoughby 8-1-24-1,
Tsotsobe 7-0-27-1, Coetsee 8-1-41-0, Du Plessis 3.3-0-29-0,
Duminy 2-0-17-0, Howell 1-0-16-0


Result: England won by eight wickets (D/L method).

- REUTERS