Mark Wood takes four wickets as England Lions look to build on huge first-innings lead
But England lose three wickets cheaply in their second innings
Tuesday 6 January 2015 19:32, UK
Mark Wood dismantled the tail with figures of 4-29 as the England Lions built a 307-run lead on day two of their opening tour match in South Africa.
Facing a Gauteng Invitation XI, the Lions added a further 82 runs to their overnight score of 361-4 before dismissing their hosts in Soweto for 179.
Wood was part of an impressive quartet of fast-bowlers along with Liam Plunkett (2-17), Jack Brooks (2-34) and Boyd Rankin (1-29) as Gauteng initially limped to 46-4 with all four quicks making an early breakthrough.
Bradley Dial and Sizwe Masondo showed some backbone but, just as they were settling into their stride, the former was bowled by Brooks for 23 and after the tea interval the hosts’ captain fell for 27, flashing Plunkett to gully.
Brian Barnard (39) and Nono Pongolo (36) staged another mini-recovery in the final session with a 65-run partnership.
But Adil Rashid gained some revenge by bowling Barnard after he had earlier thumped him for consecutive sixes over long-on and Durham paceman Wood clean bowled Pongolo before picking up the remaining two Gauteng wickets.
That gave England a first innings lead of 264 having earlier finished 443 all out.
Alex Lees failed to add to centuries from Adam Lyth and Sam Robson the day before as he edged Keith Dudgeon to slip in the second over of the day.
Jonny Bairstow (62) batted well in passing fifty but wickets fell around him as the Lions lower-order looked for quick runs.
The final day of this tour match will likely start with England batting again, resuming their second innings on 43-3 – Robson (1), Lyth (25) and James Vince (6) the ones to depart.
It means that there is not much separating Robson and Lyth in particular as they battle to partner Alastair Cook as England’s Test match opener in the Ashes this summer.
Jonathan Trott (10no) – promoted to three after a first innings failure – finished the day unbeaten and England will again look for quick runs on Wednesday before perhaps declaring and giving their bowlers something to defend.
