England’s batsmen showed some promising early-tour form as the tourists hit back on day two of their clash with the Western Australia Chairman’s XI.
Having seen the hosts amass 369-4 on day one at the Waca, England were looking for quick wickets on day two but they took just one as the home side finally declared on 451-5.
Jim Allenby was the man out for 51, while Ashton Turner finished unbeaten on 62, meaning every member of the top six reached at least 50.
The visitors then set about trying to reduce the arrears, with Michael Carberry and Joe Root putting on exactly 100 for the opening stand before the Yorkshireman fell for 36.
Carberry kept going but any thoughts of a century were dashed when he was caught by Allenby off the bowling of Turner for a well-made 78.
But Jonathan Trott and Ian Bell then built an unbroken partnership of 133 to take the score to 270-2 at stumps.
Trott’s form in last summer’s Ashes was disappointing and he will be vital to England’s cause if they are to retain the famous urn over the next couple of months Down Under, and the Warwickshire man will begin day three on 64, with his county colleague on 77.
Bell was England’s saviour in the 3-0 success over Michael Clarke’s men last time out and he looked in decent touch once again with 11 fours and two sixes in his 137-ball stay at the crease on Friday.
England now trail by 181 runs with eight wickets in hand and they will be looking to score plenty more runs on day three to give the rest of the line-up time at the crease.
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