REEVE SWINGS IT FOR ENGLAND MASTERS AGAINST AUSTRALIA

Set 249 for victory Australia were dismissed in the final over for 215, giving England the win by 33 runs.

After the mid—session break England struck an early blow by dismissing Geoff Marsh for just one, Chris Lewis clean bowling him in the fourth over.

The ex-Durham pairing of Dean Jones and David Boon then combined to nurse the Australians up to 58 by the end of the 15th over. Boon, in particular, looked to punish anything loose and it was with great relief that skipper Graham Gooch could relax the fielding restrictions.

Gooch dropped Boon on 39 at midwicket and shortly afterwards the unfortunate bowler Peter Hartley (ex Yorks and Hants) was slogged for six by Jones.

Jones reached a deserved 50 (61 mins 51 balls 8x4) with a clip to leg which also brought up the 100. His partner, on 44, tried to reach the same landmark in one go but skied Hartley to deep extra cover where Alan Wells scooped to take a low catch on the run.

Dermot Reeve's introduction to the attack met with immediate reward when he nipped one back to bowl Jones for a splendid 65.

Aussies skipper Allan Border got off the mark with a trademark clip through the leg side but fell on eight when he pulled a Reeve full toss straight to Wells.

Reeve, looking like Spiderman in his red and blue kit, turned Superhero when he then picked up the wickets of Tom Moody, smartly stumped by Bruce French, and clean bowled both Simon O'Donnell and Kim Hughes. Reeve's seven overs had brought him 5—26.

With 84 needed from eight overs Mike Gatting and then Derek Randall were given a bowl and Tony Dodemaide (ex Victoria and Sussex) helped himself with sixes off each of them.

Captain Gooch then brought himself on and his day turned for the better when he cleaned up Ian Healy for nine and after Dodemaide hit another six he hoisted to long on where Neil Foster took the catch.

In a frenzied finale Randall and then Bruce French bowled some gentle lobs but were rewarded with the wickets of Geoff Lawson and Jeff Thomson to give England victory in the last over.

Earlier England overcame the loss of Graham Gooch for a duck in the first over to post 248—8, with Derek Randall top scoring with 54 and other notable contributions coming from Chris Lewis with 41, Tim Robinson (38) and Dermot Reeve (35).

For the Aussies Dean Jones had most success with the ball, picking up 3-41, although both Jeff Thomson and Geoff Lawson bowled impressive spells.

ENGLAND MASTERS SET AUSTRALIA 249 TO WIN

Put into bat England made 248—8 from their 45 overs with local favourite Derek Randall rolling back the years with a splendid 54.

The silver haired Jeff Thomson began proceedings by bowling the first over of the contest and although the exocets of old were no longer on show he was still too quick for the England captain. With only the second ball of the day he had Graham Gooch edging straight to Tom Moody at second slip.

Trent Bridge rose to acclaim England's number three, Randall, the former home hero. Four exquisite drives rocketed him to 16 and with his old Notts team—mate Tim Robinson the 50 came up in just 11 overs.

Robinson, still a keen club cricketer, began to find his touch and took three consecutive boundaries off Rodney Hogg. On 38 though he tried a forcing back foot shot and lost his off stump to Simon O'Donnell.

Mike Gatting's innings was brief but contained two magical moments. O'Donnell was lofted into the Radcliffe Road Stand for the first six of the day but later in the same over his stay at the crease was spectacularly curtailed. A vicious pull was somehow held one—handed at midwicket by the diving Allan Border.

Randall, now joined by Alan Wells, received a thunderous round or applause when he worked Thomson to leg to reach his 50 (57 balls 9x4). He added just four more before falling, skying Tony Dodemaide to cover where O'Donnell held the catch.

Wells himself soon made 30 before glancing an away swinger from Geoff Lawson to keeper Ian Healy.

With Dermot Reeve and Chris Lewis fresh at the crease England passed 140 with still 15 overs left to bat. The predictable late assault began with Reeve dancing down the track to hoist Lawson, one bounce, over the ropes. Dean Jones then had the unenviable task of bowling his first over to Lewis and was immediately dispatched twice into the William Clarke Stand for towering maximums.

Attempting a third, Lewis was stranded out of his ground as Ian Healy completed a routine stumping; the batsman out for 41.

In Jones' next over Bruce French fell in identical fashion with Healy again smartly whipping the bails off.

Reeve pressed the accelerator button to reach a typically unorthodox 35 before holing out to Thomson at long off. Bowler Jones finishing his five over spell with figures of 3—41.

Neil Foster and former Hampshire seamer Kevan James boosted the score with some rustic slogging in the final two overs to ensure a challenging total was posted.

ENGLAND MASTERS SET AUSTRALIA A TARGET OFF 249

Put into bat England made 248—8 from their 45 overs with local favourite Derek Randall rolling back the years with a splendid 54.

The silver haired Jeff Thomson began proceedings by bowling the first over of the contest and although the exocets of old were no longer on show he was still too quick for the England captain. With only the second ball of the day he had Graham Gooch edging straight to Tom Moody at second slip.

Trent Bridge rose to acclaim England's number three, Randall, the former home hero. Four exquisite drives rocketed him to 16 and with his old Notts team—mate Tim Robinson the 50 came up in just 11 overs.

Robinson, still a keen club cricketer, began to find his touch and took three consecutive boundaries off Rodney Hogg. On 38 though he tried a forcing back foot shot and lost his off stump to Simon O'Donnell.

Mike Gatting's innings was brief but contained two magical moments. O'Donnell was lofted into the Radcliffe Road Stand for the first six of the day but later in the same over his stay at the crease was spectacularly curtailed. A vicious pull was somehow held one—handed at midwicket by the diving Allan Border.

Randall, now joined by Alan Wells, received a thunderous round or applause when he worked Thomson to leg to reach his 50 (57 balls 9x4). He added just four more before falling, skying Tony Dodemaide to cover where O'Donnell held the catch.

Wells himself soon made 30 before glancing an away swinger from Geoff Lawson to keeper Ian Healy.

With Dermot Reeve and Chris Lewis fresh at the crease England passed 140 with still 15 overs left to bat. The predictable late assault began with Reeve dancing down the track to hoist Lawson, one bounce, over the ropes. Dean Jones then had the unenviable task of bowling his first over to Lewis and was immediately dispatched twice into the William Clarke Stand for towering maximums.

Attempting a third, Lewis was stranded out of his ground as Ian Healy completed a routine stumping; the batsman out for 41.

In Jones' next over Bruce French fell in identical fashion with Healy again smartly whipping the bails off.

Reeve pressed the accelerator button to reach a typically unorthodox 35 before holing out to Thomson at long off. Bowler Jones finishing his five over spell with figures of 3—41.

Neil Foster and former Hampshire seamer Kevan James boosted the score with some rustic slogging in the final two overs to ensure a challenging total was posted.

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Date-stamped : 01 Jul2001 - 18:40