Cricket: Lloyd masters Academy attack

England A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 220 and 271-6

Australian Cricket Academy . . . . . . . . . . . . .231

GRAHAM LLOYD struck a brilliant unbeaten century to put England A in a strong position against the Australian Cricket Academy in Melbourne yesterday.

The 23-year-old Lancashire batsman was 124 not out at the close with England A, on 271 for 6, leading by 260 with one day remaining. England A had slipped to 82 for 3 when Lloyd began his innings, but, in just under four hours he hit two sixes off the leg-spinner Peter McIntyre and 15 fours.

Lloyd shared stands of 56 with Graham Thorpe, 41 with Jack Russell and an unbroken 78 with Andy Caddick.

After Simon Cook, the Academy's most successful bowler with 4 for 54, had conceded 18 in one over to Lloyd with the new ball, Norman Gifford, the England A coach, enthused: 'That was a top-quality innings. We needed runs from him and he didn't let us down. He is a marvellous timer of the ball.'

Lloyd said: 'That was one of the most satisfying knocks of my career on one of the best grounds in the world.'

Scoreboard, Sport in Short, page 29