By Tony Becca, Contributing Editor
England's Paul Collingwood prods forward during the final day of the team's practice match against the Jamaica XI at Sabina Park. Collingwood made 103 as the match petered out into a draw. - Junior Dowie/Staff Photographer
THE THREE-day match between the touring England cricketers and a Jamaica XI ended in a draw at Sabina Park yesterday with Paul Collingwood and Ashley Giles, one with a century and one with four wickets, enjoying themselves in brilliant sunshine.
Final score, England 320 and 259 for six declared, Jamaica X1 281 and 106 for six.
One of 13 players used by the tourists in a match that was supposed to be a first-class fixture but which, with 26 players in action, turned out to be nothing but a practice match, Collingwood, who did not bat in the first innings but turned up at number three in the second, paraded an array of attacking strokes before he drove at left-arm spinner Lorenzo Ingram, skied a catch to Danza Hyatt at backward point and departed for 103 at 253 for five.
Resuming on seven with England on 51 for one, Collingwood faced 142 deliveries and struck eight fours and two sixes both off offspinner Bevan Brown and both over long-off.
Another batsman who enjoyed the workout against a tame Jamaica attack was Andrew Flintoff.
ACTION
Joining the action after Marcus Trescothick, 21 not out overnight, had edged an attempted drive against pacer Dwight Mais to captain Brenton Parchment at gully in the morning's first over, Flintoff rattled up 56 off 71 deliveries with eight fours and one six a powerful drive off Mais that sailed over long-on.
With Mark Butcher nursing an injury after turning his left ankle while fielding on the second day, captain Michael Vaughan taking a rest after scoring 105 in the first innings, and former captain Nasser Hussain also sitting it out after his 65, the others in action were Giles, Rikki Clarke, Chris Read and Matthew Hoggard as the tourists handed their bowlers and their wicketkeeper another opportunity to get some batting practice.
Following a request by the West Indies selectors, fast bowler Jermaine Lawson, who bowled 11 overs in the first innings and took one for 45, did not bowl in the second innings.
Batting a second time, the Jamaicans started well, and with Shawn Findley and Donovan Pagon playing some delightful strokes, skipped to 65 for one before left-arm spinner Giles, with a little help from pacer Flintoff, had them reeling at 80 for six with five wickets falling for 15 runs in 11 overs.
