After struggling early with the top order batsmen, the Australian A unknowns managed to pull some magic out as England hit the self destruct button once again. Owasis Shah could only manage 25 before tying to pull Brad Williams out of the ground. He got an edge, which wicketkeeper Ryan Campbell snapped up.

Ian Blackwell provided six runs for the England cause but took a chance with a silly run and Jimmy Maher pounced on the ball and ran him out.

Robert Key, who performed so well previously against this Australia A line up, managed only 11 runs when he was caught out in the deep with a good Michael Clarke catch off the bowling of Bradley Hogg.

Kabir Ali and Andrew Flintoff provided a brief respite for England when they added 27 runs to the cause but Flintoff crumbled as well managing only 14 before he was caught behind off a Andrew Symonds.

Kabir Ali went down the ground but did not manage any runs and instead found Clarke who judged the ball well to take a great catch falling to the ground.

James Kirtley ended the innings when he was bowled around his pads for one. Hogg did the damage to ensure a good victory for Australia A.

After a quick start with Ronnie Irani making 33 runs off 22 balls, England lost their way. Te flyer that the England had got off to, though, still allowed them to keep up with Australia A at comparative times.

With the introduction of spin bowlers into the attack, including part-timer Greg Blewett, Bradley Hogg and Andrew Symonds, the amount of runs taken soon slowed up.

Nasser Hussain equalled the top score for England with Irani for 33. It took the England captain 72 balls for his runs. He fell leg before wicket to Hogg, although replays suggest it looked like it was going down leg.

Australia A had their chances to take vital wickets but with sloppy fielding and dropping chances they gave England their lives back. Australia A, in the field have not been up to the particular high Australian standard.

Owasis Shah is on 25 not out and Robert Key on four not out.

England started slowly with the Australia A fielders keen and eager to stop runs. When Knight dropped a Brad Williams delivery close to his body and feigned to make a run, Williams and all surrounding fielders swooped in to ensure no run was taken.

The bowling was tight and because of this the openers were forced to make runs. Craig White, unfamiliar in the position of opener, pushed a single to point where Mike Hussey was waiting. The West Australian fired the ball in and made a direct hit to find the all-rounder short.

Then in came big-hitting Irani. The 31-year-old blazed the Australian A attack taking 33 runs off just 22 balls. He hit Williams and Nathan Bracken around the ground giving them all a little touch up. He was particularly lethal with Bracken smashing him for three fours in the one over.

But the Essex captain was trapped leg before wicket by Ashley Noffke from his first ball. After taking off Williams from the Paddington end, Noffke angled one in which hit the right-hander low on the pad. The run rate rocketed with Irani at the crease but slowly took a dive with two less aggressive batsmen now out the middle.

Captain Nasser Hussain came to the crease and after watching the pitch for a couple of balls, he promptly smashed Noffke to the boundary for four to get things started. Hussain and Knight were going along well with 13 quick runs.

Knight, though, soon said good night after he slashed at a wider delivery and got the top edge which wicketkeeper Ryan Campbell snapped up. He departed for 20.

Noffke is in brilliant form. He appears to have his rhythm right and is continually making Hussain and Owasis Shah play at balls.

Langer stood strong and made a decent 62 before pulling Robbie Irani out in the deep for James Kirtley to run around and catch it safely at deep mid-wicket. Langer was justifiably upset after trying to take on the medium pacer. Earlier in the innings he safely pulled Irani for six.

Irani proved to be the best of the England bowlers. His 10 over spell produced three wickets for only 30 runs- a fruitful display considering the nature of the match.

Another good find from England for the Australian public to watch is Ian Blackwell. The slow left arm orthodox spinner showed considerable patience and great tenacity as he bowled his 10 overs for one lower order but managed to give away 24 runs- an economical prospect. Blackwell also showed great athletic ability and enthusiasm trying to save every run he could.

Ryan Campbell and Michael Hussey toiled over the final overs to give Australia A more runs and better chance of edging out England. Campbell and Hussey, both from Western Australia, combined well and showed an understanding as they went for singles.

This was short-lived as Campbell looking to slice one through the cover region, got an underside edge and wicketkeeper Alec Stewart took a simple catch. Campbell seemingly unconvinced he had hit the ball waited for umpire Peter Parker to put the finger up.

Bradley Hogg did not wait even though the third umpire had been called upon. Hogg casually placing the ball down to short third man, he took off for a risky run albeit needed run. Robert Key threw the ball back to the bowler Blackwell who took the stumps off. Umpire Parker called for the third umpire but Hogg began to walk.

He waited well away from his crease and the third umpire found him short rather quickly.

Blackwell finally got his well-deserved wicket when he had Ashley Noffke coming out of crease. Stewart stumped the right hander after the Blackwell delivery turned a great amount completely bamboozling the paceman.

Nathan Bracken acme to the crease and made 11 runs off 12 balls. The New South Wales quick upped the tempo, trying to get a few more runs and in the process made the first boundary for 15 overs with a six over third man. Two balls later Andrew Flintoff took revenge and got the left-hander’s off stump, giving him figures of 1 for 27.

Hussey scored 44 not out from only 47 balls proving his tenacity to make the most of ones and twos. He was adequately supported by Brad Williams who made seven not out in the final over and a half.

Clarke showed his attacking nature and gave an indication of exactly what the visitors could expect from him in the future and Australia in five days time. The 21-year-old punished the wayward bowling of the visitors and from his first six scoring shots, five found their way to the boundary.

Coming to the crease after the departure of Greg Blewett, Clarke made his presence felt. Facing his first ball, he smashed Kabir Ali through the covers for four. The next ball was dealt a similar fate as it sailed through extra cover and the third almost took Nick Knight’s head off as Clarke thrashed it through cover point. It seemed the youngster thought there was only one way to make runs and that was to score at increments of four at a time.

After taking the wicket of Blewett, Ali was the toast of the England side yet with Clarke at the crease, he finished his second over disconcertingly at 1 for 25.

Blewett, looking to wind up after a constrained start, slashed at a loose Kabir Ali delivery and Knight took a brilliant catch at point to dismiss the right hander for 23. Blewett sank down onto one knee and immediately put his head down, knowing he could have done more with such a poor delivery.

This brought Clarke to the crease and buoyed by his new partner’s enthusiasm took it upon himself to join in. The left-hander brought up the Australia A 100 with a six to take Langer to 49. The next over he scampered through for a quick single to bring up his half-century off 74 balls.

Replacing Kabir Ali at the Paddington end, Ronnie Irani appeared to have more luck even though Langer had smashed him for six. The 31-year-old got Clarke driving down the ground and then snuck the ball through bat and pad to dismiss his younger rival for 25.

Andrew Symonds made a disappointing three runs after he tried to gently run an Irani delivery down. However, Knight at first slip moved aptly to his right and took the catch high above his head and with one hand.

Irani and Ian Blackwell have managed to stem the flow of runs off Australia A, tying down Langer and Mike Hussey.

It has not by any means been easy pickings. In the morning, James Kirtley and Andrew Flintoff bowled incredibily well. Kirtley, playing his first match on Australian soil, made Langer and Blewett work for their runs. The England quick seems to possess a good temperament and an impeccable line and length to go with it and this caused difficulties for the batsmen.

Kirtley's first ball of the match and indeed the morning caused Langer concern when he came incredibly close to be caught leg before wicket. With the ball having pitched in the strike zone and got Langer low on the pads, replays suggested that Kirtley had cause to be distressed.

In the next over, Kirtley finally got his reward snaring opener Jimmy Maher for a duck. A slightly quicker delivery got Maher's inside edge and Craig White completed a simple catch at cover. It was a good wicket for England considering Maher has a strike rate of 68 when he dons the Australia A colours.

His partner could consider himself extremely lucky when he survived after being dropped by Robert Key at first slip. Langer, on 12, slashed at a wide delivery from Flintoff and it flew to the slips for Key to drop an absolute sitter. It was chest high and he managed to get two hands onto the ball yet he could not hang onto it.

England was punished the very next ball with Langer caressing a four through the mid-wicket region, and continues to penalise England for each and every mistake they make.