OWN CORRESPONDENT, Cape Town | Monday 6.45pm.
ENGLAND happily settled for a draw against a second-string Western Province/Boland XI at Newlands on Monday after being outplayed comprehensively.
Set a target of 250 runs off 47 overs, England had amassed a second innings total of 82/2 off 41 overs when play was called off 30 minutes before the scheduled close.
When added to their first-innings 249 it becomes clear that England were always struggling to keep up with the Combined XI,who posted totals of 358/9 declared and 140/6 declared.
It was only in the final session on Sunday when the visitors looked anywhere near controlling the match, but they let it slip after having the locals reeling on 54/4 in their second innings.
First thing in the morning it looked even brighter for them when Boland ace Kenny Jackson was dismissed to make it 54/5.
The English fighback was countered well with a classy sixth-wicket partnership of 55 between Ashwell Prince and wicketkeeper Steve Palframan.
Captain Louis Koen declared shortly after 2pm and asked England to score 5,3 runs an over for the victory. England declined the offer, and instead got in some useful batting practice.
England settled down once Mark Butcher was run out, and Michael Atherton and new partner, skipper Nasser Hussain were taking it very easy out in the middle.
Atherton, however, lost his wicket for 24 when he played a loose stroke at a Donovan Koch delivery, and was caught spectacularly by Rashaad Magiet at mid-wicket.
After Atherton was back in the hut Hussain (33 off 103 balls) and Michael Vaughan (16 off 77 balls) simply waited out the end.