Waugh's men approach Ashes in winning mood

Steve Waugh's Australians continued their impressive build-up to the Ashes series with a 280-run victory over MCC on Wednesday.

The touring team were held up on the third and final day only by a hard-hit 57 from former Surrey batsman David Ward and 81 not out from ex-West Indies skipper Jimmy Adams.

MCC, needing an improbable 561 to win after Australia had declared their second innings at the overnight 294 for eight, were dismissed for 280 shortly after tea.

Ward led the resistance by reaching his 50 off 55 balls in just 44 minutes, hitting eight fours and two sixes.

Shane Warne suffered particularly from his onslaught, but the leg-spinner had the last word when Ward hit him uppishly to skipper Waugh at short cover.

Adams held up Australia's march to victory in his innings of 140 balls that contained 11 fours and one six.

He was left undefeated after Damien Martyn, with two for 38, and off-spinner Colin Miller, who took three for 87, had worked their way through the middle and lower order.

Australia, who won the triangular one-day series final against Pakistan at Lord's on Saturday after England were eliminated, now play Essex at Chelmsford in a three-day game starting on Friday.

It is their last warm-up before the first test against England beginning at Edgbaston, Birmingham, on July 5.

Mail Cricket Editor