Paul Collingwood, a replacement for the injured Mark Butcher, enhanced his case for a Test place with a century as England's three-day match against Jamaica at Sabina Park in Kingston ended in a draw on Wednesday.
After starting the day on 50 for one, 89 runs in front, Collingwood and Andrew Flintoff, who smashed a quick-fire 57, set about getting some batting practice ahead of next week's first Test against West Indies at the same venue.
Captain Michael Vaughan declared just before tea with the tourists at 259 for six leaving Jamaica with an unrealistic target of 299 in the final session to win the match.
They lurched to 106 for six after left-arm spinner Ashley Giles took four quick wickets.
Giles finished with figures of four for 19 off 10 overs. James Anderson and Flintoff took the other wickets while Donovan Pagon and Shawn Findlay top scored for Jamaica with 26 runs apiece.
Collingwood replaced Butcher after the Surrey batsman injured ankle ligaments when falling awkwardly while fielding on Tuesday.
He had been not included in the original 12 named for the match, but the Jamaican team agreed to let him take Butcher's place.
The Durham righthander made the most of his chance, resuming on six and hitting eight fours and two sixes on his way to 103 while also forging a 104-run partnership with Flintoff, who had been promoted up the order.
The big Lancashire all rounder smashed eight fours and a six and raced to a 56-ball half century before being caught by Dwight Mais off Findlay shortly after.
England have just one more three-day game, against a Vice-Chancellor's XI starting on Friday, before the first Test against West Indies begins on March 11.
© 2024 Rediff.com -