BBC News Online: Sport: Cricket: England on Tour

England crank up the pace

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

England first innings 358-9 declared
Free State/Griqualand West Combined XI first innings 194 (G.Liebenberg 93)
England second innings 211-1 declared (M.Butcher 87 not out, M.Atherton 81)
Free State/Griqualand West XI second innings
M.Gidley b Gough 11
G.Liebenberg c sub (Maddy) b Hamilton 12
F.Brooker b Vaughan 56
P.Barnard b Hamilton 16
M.van Wyk c Adams b Tufnell 21
L.Bosman lbw b Mullally 40
J.Van der Wath c Hamilton b Tufnell 11
W.Bossenger b Gough 9
H.Bakkes c Stewart b Tufnell 2
G.Roe not out 14
C Vorster b Vaughan 18
Extras (lb-7 nb-5) 12
Total 222
Fall of wickets: 1-20 2-33 3-53 4-83 5-162 6-166 7-186 8-188 9-189
Bowling:
Gough 19-5-52-2 (3nb)
Hamilton 14-2-39-2 (2nb), Mullally 20-7-60-1
Tufnell 17-6-27-3
Vaughan 7.1-0-37-2.
Result: England won by 153 runs.

In this section

Plucky England hang around
Solanki breathes life into draw
Headley on the mend
Black player drafted for England match
England crank up the pace
Butcher beefs up England total
England 'A' ease to victory
England scramble to a draw
Butcher facing chop
Caddick lone England star
Neale gets England 'fixer' role
Hussain secures first Tour victory
England flop in tour opener
Bangladesh hold out for draw
New-look England jet off
Boo-boo aims for error-free ride
'Think tank' role for Atherton and Stewart
Hansie Cronje: Captain on trial
Kirtley called up for A tour
England player profiles
South Africa player profiles
Hamilton switches sides
A captain in the making
Second time lucky for Maddy
England need Swann to strutt
South African Test venues