TIM WARD’S fourth innings century has helped guide the Cricket Australia XI to a seven-wicket victory over England Lions. The opener hit triple-figures in 195 deliveries before retiring hurt on 115 (207), leaving Jack Clayton (18) and Lachlan Hearne (5) to reach the 261-run target on day three.

Having conceded a first innings deficit at Ian Healy Oval, the CA XI bowled the tourists out for 213 in their second dig but were faced with a relatively hefty total to chase. They made inroads late on day two to reach 1-97, leaving 164 more runs to accrue on what would be the final day’s play in Brisbane.

Ward combined with captain Peter Handscomb in a 110-run stand for the third wicket before the latter departed for 57 (104). John Turner (1-45) claimed the Victorian’s wicket, while Hampshire teammate Sonny Baker (1-28) produced the day’s only other dismissal – removing Henry Hunt for 11.

The match’s only other centurion was Hearne, who blasted a crucial 106 off 63 deliveries as the CA XI crawled to a first innings total of 176, 46 runs in arrears of the Lions. Baker (4-43) and Sam Cook (4-15) did the damage with the ball, with the latter removing four of the top five batters.

Only two other CA XI batters passed 20 runs as the hosts scrambled to recover from 5-36. Opener Ben McKinney (94) top-scored for England in the third innings with tailender Cook (23) boasting next best total. Having bagged 5-27 in the first dig, Cameron Gannon added 1-35 as Charlie Anderson and Gabe Bell claimed three wickets apiece.

The two teams will compete in a second tour game in Brisbane next week. England has called upon seamer Dillon Pennington for the match. The Lions will then take on Australia A in a first-class fixture in Sydney starting on January 30. The Australia A squad was announced on Wednesday.

SCORECARD

RESULT: CA XI won by 7 wickets
TOSS: England Lions elected to bat

1st Innings: England Lions 10-223 (54.4)
Alex Davies 54 (60), Hamza Shaikh 34 (73), Freddie McCann 30 (47)
Cameron Gannon 5-27 (12.4), Charlie Anderson 2-51 (10), Corey Rocchiccioli 2-58 (12)

2nd Innings: CA XI 10-176 (33.1)
Lachlan Hearne 106 (63), Ryan Hicks 29 (46), Jayden Goodwin 20 (27)
Sam Cook 4-15 (8), Sonny Baker 4-43 (5.1), Josh Turner 1-24 (6)

England Lions led by 47 runs

3rd Innings: England Lions 10-213 (58.4)
Ben McKinney 94 (130), Sam Cook 23 (19), Shoaib Bashir 16 (42)
Charlie Anderson 3-31 (9.4), Gabe Bell 3-32 (11), Corey Rocchiccioli 2-42 (10)

England Lions led by 260 runs

4th Innings: CA XI 3-261 (73.3)
Tim Ward 115 (207), Peter Handscomb 57 (104), Jayden Goodwin 35 (60)
Sonny Baker 1-28 (10), Josh Turner 1-45 (14), Shoaib Bashir 1-54 (16)

SQUADS

CA XI: Jayden Goodwin, Tim Ward, Henry Hunt, Peter Handscomb (c), Jack Clayton, Lachlan Hearne, Ryan Hicks (wk), Raf MacMillan, Tom Whitney, Corey Rocchiccioli, Charlie Anderson, Cameron Gannon, Gabe Bell

England Lions: Alex Davies (c), Ben McKinney, Freddie McCann, James Rew (wk), Hamza Shaikh, James Coles, Rocky Flintoff, Tom Lawes, Shoaib Bashir, Sonny Baker, Sam Cook, Patrick Brown, John Turner

>> SQUAD: 12-man Australia A squad to take on England Lions