It was only the second win in five warm-up matches for Nasser Hussain's men and their first against first-class opposition.

England dismissed the home side for 222 in less than a day's play but it is not just the scale of the win which will have raised confidence in the England camp.

Hussain was encouraged by the impressive return of strike bowler Darren Gough and improved performance from all-rounder Gavin Hamilton.

Gough's form was a huge boost for England, who have called up Yorkshire's Chris Silverwood as cover for the first Test because of fitness concerns over Gough, Dean Headley and Andrew Flintoff.

Gough, who took four wickets in the first innings and two in the second, finished the match as England's most profitable bowler.

With the home side resuming on the last day at 360 runs behind, an England win had always appeared a formality.

The Combined XI slumped to 83 for four before lunch - Hamilton taking two in an enterprising six-over spell in which he conceded only 12 runs.

But a stubborn 79-run partnership between Loots Bosman and Finley Brooker, interrupted for 45 minutes by lightning and rain, frustrated England for 24 overs and left them with only 33 overs to claim the final six wickets.

However left-arm spinner Phil Tufnell struck, taking three for 27, while Alan Mullally and Gough chipped in with a wicket apiece in the space of eight overs to leave victory in England's sights.

Last pair Garth Roe and Chrisjan Vorster stubbornly resisted - putting on 33 between them - but off-spinner Michael Vaughan, who has also been impressive in his main batting role, wrapped up the contest with 10.5 overs remaining.

Final day of four-day tour match between Free State/Griqualand West Combined XI and England at Goodyear Park