England lifted by Strauss, Cook and Pietersen

SYDNEY, Nov 13 (Reuters) Andrew Strauss, Alastair Cook and Kevin Pietersen made fluent half-centuries to lift England to 256 for four at the close on the second day of the tour match against New South Wales today.

Replying to the hosts' 355 for nine declared, England overcame the early loss of Marcus Trescothick to enjoy some much-needed batting practice with the start of the first Ashes test just 10 days away.

Strauss made 50, Cook 59, Pietersen 80 not out and captain Andrew Flintoff an unbeaten 48, with Trescothick (eight) and Ian Bell (nought) the only batsmen to miss out.

Trescothick dragged a wide ball from Brett Lee on to his stumps, but Strauss looked comfortable from the start, driving and cutting Lee and his Australia team mate Glenn McGrath for boundaries in the early overs.

He was dropped by Stuart Clark in the gully off Nathan Bracken on 32 but reached his half-century with a rasping drive to the extra cover boundary.

The left-hander was out almost immediately, however, brilliantly caught one-handed off his own bowling by Clark, and Bell nicked his second ball to wicketkeeper Daniel Smith.

Cook continued to occupy the crease in a composed manner and he reached his fifty off 85 balls including six fours.

PATIENT INNINGS Pietersen started slowly but found his touch, crashing McGrath through the covers and whipping Moises Henriques for two fours through midwicket.

Cook's patient innings ended with the score on 166, McGrath forcing him on to the back foot and trapping him lbw.

Pietersen, joined by Flintoff, reached his half-century with a violent pull through midwicket off McGrath for his seventh four.

Flintoff survived a few early scares before hitting spinner Beau Casson for three successive leg-side boundaries, but the all-rounder continued to play watchfully as he continued his comeback from injury.

Flintoff showed signs of his best form, hitting Clark for a delightful straight four and hooking him powerfully through square leg.

Pietersen lifted Nathan Hauritz over long-off for a huge six just before the close and Flintoff survived a sharp chance to midwicket off the last ball of the day.

Earlier, New South Wales declared their first innings on 355 for nine after resuming on 325 for five.

They lost Moises Henriques, lbw to Steve Harmison, before rain forced the players off the field for a couple of hours.

When they returned, England captured three more wickets before New South Wales captain Simon Katich declared.

Harmison finished with figures of three for 95, James Anderson two for 45, Matthew Hoggard one for 58 and Ashley Giles two for 46.

REUTERS PM PM1414