Surrey opener Mark Butcher made a welcome return to form with an unbeaten 87, as England took control of their four-day match against a Free State/Griqualand West Combined XI at Goodyear Park on Sunday.

Butcher hit 10 boundaries off 146 balls in England's second innings of 211-1 declared as they set the home team 375 for victory with one day remaining.

At the close, the Combined XI had reached 10 without loss.

The early good work was done by fast bowler Darren Gough, who took 4-60 in 21 overs in only his second competitive match since a calf injury ruined his English summer in mid-July.

Vital scalp

After the Combined XI resumed on 156-3, Gough struck early claiming the vital wicket of Gerhardus Liebenberg, who added just 12 runs to his overnight score of 80.

Gough, who had captured the wicket of opener Martyn Gidley the previous evening, went on to dismiss tailenders Wendell Bossenger and Herman Bakkes.

Left-arm seamer Allan Mullally weighed in with two for 24 in 19 overs as the Combined XI lost their last seven wickets for just 22 runs.

With a first innings lead of 164, openers Butcher and Mike Atherton wasted no time in setting a target and put on 141 for the first wicket in just over 2-1/2 hours.

Atherton was eventually caught behind for 81 off 128 balls after hitting 10 fours and a six, allowing Andrew Flintoff time to hit a six and six fours in a quickfire 37 from 25 balls before the declaration.

Scorecard:

England 1st innings 358-9 declared

Free State/Griquas X1 1st innings (156-3 overnight)

G.Liebenberg c Hussain b Mullally 92
M.Gidley b Gough 37
F.Brooker c Butcher b Vaughan 0
P.Barnard c Atherton b Hamilton 3
M.Van Wyk not out 31
L.Bosman c Stewart b Mullally 0
J.Van der Wath run out (Husain) 0
W.Bossenger c Stewart b Gough 3
H.Bakkes c Adams b Gough 8
G.Roe c Atherton b Tufnell 1
C.Vorster not out 2

Extras (12lb, 4nb, 1w) 17
Total (all out, 88 overs) 194

Fall of wickets: 1-81, 2-90, 3-102, 4-170, 5-170, 6-170, 7-180, 8-183, 9-192.

Bowling: Gough 21-6-60-4 (2nb), Mullally 19-11-24-2 (1w), Hamilton 10-1-40-1 (2nb), Tufnell 24-10-31-1, Vaughan 13-2-26-1, Butcher 1-0-1-0.

England 2nd innings

M.Butcher not out 87
M.Atherton c Bossenger b Vorster 81
A.Flintoff not out 37

Extras (1b, 4lb, 1w) 6
Total (for 1 wkt declared, 50 overs) 211

Fall of wicket: 1-141.
Bowling: Gidley 12-3-43-0, Bakkes 4-1-16-0, Roe 6-0-24-0, Vorster 12-1-67-1, Bosman 8-0-27-0 (1w), Van der Wath 8-2-29-0.

Free State/Griquas 2nd innings

G.Liebenberg not out 3
M.Gidley not out 10

Extras (2lb) 2
Total (for 0 wkt, 10 overs) 15