Crane picks three as England bowlers restrict CA XI

England 293 & 5-0 (Stoneman 4no) v
Cricket Australia XI 233-9 dec (Paine 52)
Tour game, Adelaide, day two

Mason Crane picked a three wicket haul while James Anderson and Chris Woakes shared two wickets apiece as England managed to restrict Cricket Australia XI to 233 for nine following which they stretched their lead to 65 runs at stumps on day two of the tour game in Adelaide.

Earlier, England resumed their first innings with a score of 278 for eight. The final two wickets Jake Ball (4) and James Anderson (4) fell in quick succession with Daniel Fallins (5-73) picking the latter and also completing a five wicket haul to bowl out England for 293 in their first innings.

Nick Larkin (6) and Jake Carder (24) started the Cricket Australia XI innings with caution, reaching 18 runs in the first nine overs. Chris Woakes (2-48) provided the initial breakthrough when he trapped Larkin LBW and soon Ball (1-5) accounted for Ryan Gibson (4).

However, England suffered a setback when Ball left the field with an injury after bowling just 22 deliveries. Cricket Australia XI went into tea break with a score of 41 for two.

The wickets continued to tumble in the second session with the home side losing Carder, Will Pucovski (4) and Jason Sangha (3). Tim Paine (52) and Matthew Short (45) counterattacked the England bowlers with some positive play.

The duo shared 86 runs between them for the sixth wicket with skipper Paine also completing a well compiled half-century. However, a double strike from Anderson (2-30) and Crane (3-78) ensured CA XI were restricted to 233 for nine before the declaration came to test out the England openers.

Both Alastair Cook (1 not out) and Mark Stoneman (4 not out) managed to get through the five overs of play without losing a wicket as England stretched their lead to 65 runs by stumps.

© Cricket World 2017