Cricket correspondent Jonathan Agnew watches England's win (Radio 5 Live)

Mike Atherton was the star of the show for the tourists with a typically determined 88, as they secure a one-run win over an ACB Chairman's XI at Lilac Hill near Perth.

Gough, who was only on the field as a bowling substitute in the carnival-atmosphere match, wrapped up the victory.

Atherton goes for his shots at Lilac Hill

But England will know that, despite the friendly nature of the contest, the manner of their success should have been much more comfortable.

The tourists' bowling was often wayward and allowed the Chairman's XI to get within a hair's breadth of a shock triumph.

England had started well enough, former captain Michael Atherton helping them notch up an impressive 297 for five in their 50 overs.

Atherton hit 88 against an attack including former Australian fast bowlers Dennis Lillee and Bruce Reid and captain Alec Stewart weighed in with an equally impressive 74.

England captain Alec Stewart gives his verdict on victory (Radio 5 Live)

But there was some worrying news on the fitness front. Stewart did not field later in the day after suffering a back strain and Ben Hollioake injured his groin.

However, the management team insist Stewart's inactivity was purely precautionary and it is hoped he will still be able to keep wicket against Western Australia on Saturday.

"It was just a little bit of stiffness," Stewart said. "If it had been a Test match or a first class game we were playing today, then I would have played.

"We are looking to win every game but that was tight," he added. "We did not bowl as well as we can early one because we are just not used to the length we need to bowl here.

"We have been talking about the discipline required and we gave them a bit too much width and bowled it a bit short but as the innings wore on we bowled much better."

Atherton at it again

In front of a capacity 11,000 crowd Atherton guided the innings, after Mark Butcher played onto Reid in the 10th over for 19, sharing a 69 partnership with Ben Hollioake spanning 11 overs.

Hollioake hit a typically flamboyant 28 off 32 balls before mistiming an attempted pull and giving seamer Matthew Nicholson a simple return catch.

Captain's innings: Stewart steers his way to a fine 74

Atherton looked on course to post England's first century of the tour but fell 12 runs short having hit 13 boundaries in his 108-ball innings.

ACB captain Simon Katich thwarted his efforts taking a brilliant one-handed diving catch at cover.

Stewart continued England's onslaught and, aided by John Crawley, hammered 10 boundaries off 68 balls before becoming Nicholson's second victim.

Crawley hit a quickfire 64 off 50 balls including two sixes and five other boundaries.

But the bowling failed to match up to the efforts of the batsmen.

Bowlers take a pummelling

Tudor celebrates his first wicket for England

The ACB XI were ahead of their required run-rate early on thanks to a dazzling knock from opener Ryan Campbell, who hit 74 from 60 balls.

He was backed up by Michael Hussey (32), Test hopeful Matthew Elliott (39) and skipper Simon Katich (27) as the home side sprinted to 172-2 off just 29 overs and looked well set for an upset.

But the bowlers hit back, with debutant Alex Tudor taking two wickets in a fiery spell.

A late flourish from the batsmen left them needing six off the final over, but Gough's intervention spared England's blushes.

Scoreboard

England innings
M Butcher b Reid 19
M Atherton c Katich b Canning 88
B Hollioake c and b Nicholson 28
A Stewart b Nichol 74
J Crawley run out 64
M Ramprakash not out 9
W Hegg not out 4
Extras 11
Total (5 wickets, 50 overs) 297

Fall of wickets: 1-32, 2-101, 3-170, 4-276, 5-288

Bowling: Lillie 6-0-22-0, Reid 7-1-30-1, Nicholson 10-0-46-2, Angel 8-1-55-0, Canning 10-0-74-1, Baker 9-0-64-0

ACB Chairman's XI innings:
M E Hussey b Tudor 32
R J Campbell c Butcher b Tudor 74
M T G Elliott lbw b Gough 39
S M Katich c Crawley b Headley 27
R M Baker run out 38
G M Wood b Such 10
M Dighton c Atherton b Tudor 31
T Canning run out 22
M Nicholson b Gough 4
J Angel run out 5
B A Reid not out 0
Extras 14
Total (all out, 50 overs) 296

Fall: 1-87 2-124 3-139 4-172 5-217 6-257 7-270 8-283 9-294