Hick hits England into big lead

13 April 2012

Graeme Hick powered England into a commanding lead in their match against a Board President's XI today by moving towards his first half-century of the Sri Lanka tour.

The Worcestershire batsman arrived on the tour under pressure for his Test place and has struggled for runs, scoring only 21 in the two innings he has played so far while rival Michael Vaughan hit a useful 57 in the first innings.

But today the roles were reversed with Vaughan falling for a duck while Hick was unbeaten on 47 at tea on the third day to guide the tourists into a 256-run lead on 192 for six.

Hick hit a six and seven other boundaries in his 74-ball innings and helped England recover from a middle-order collapse after beginning their second innings this morning.

England were forced to recover from the early loss of captain Nasser Hussain, who could only fend a sharply-lifting delivery from former Sri Lankan seamer Ravindra Pushpakumara behind to wicketkeeper Prasanna Jayawardne.

Michael Atherton began positively and helped Graham Thorpe forge a 60-run second-wicket partnership, but with only four overs remaining before lunch, he appeared to be harshly given out caught behind off left-arm spinner Dinuk Hettiarachchi for 47.

The tourists' fortunes slipped further after lunch with Alec Stewart, and Vaughan falling in quick succession as England lost three for 17 in four overs until Craig White and Hick teamed up to forge a crucial 63-run partnership.

Stewart's weakness against spin was once again exposed when he advanced down the pitch to left-armer Dinuk Hettiarachchi for the second time in the match - and finished with the same outcome as Jayawardne completed an easy stumping.

Vaughan fell four overs later, getting under an attempted sweep shot to pick out backward square leg, but Hick and White went on the offensive to prevent complete capitulation.

All-rounder White fell three overs before tea, pulling off-spinner Tilan Samaraweera straight to Sujeewa de Silva at deep mid-wicket, but Hick and new batsman Ashley Giles successfully steered the tourists to tea without further loss.

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