Knight leads England charge at Buffalo Park

England's World Cup build-up continued smoothly in East London, where they romped to a comprehensive win over Border in their second lead-up match. After another clinical bowling performance dismissed the hosts for 202, England reached the target with 12 and a half overs to spare after a rapid half century from Marcus Trescothick set them on their way.

Trescothick and Nick Knight had put on exactly 100 at less than a run a ball by the time the former was dismissed for 58, an innings punctuated by powerful drives. It included two sixes, one over point off Bennett Sokonyane and the other straight off left-armer Liam Graham.

Knight was initially more cautious, but opened out to hit consecutive deliveries from Sokonyane to the off-side boundary in an over that cost 19 runs.

Trescothick's run-a-ball innings came to an end when he mishit a slower ball from Graham to square leg. Michael Vaughan maintained the healthy run rate by immediately driving Graham for two fours and a three. After making 29 from 26 balls, Vaughan was caught behind off Tyron Henderson.

It was to be Border's last breakthrough. Nasser Hussain joined Knight, and the two calmly knocked off the 62 more runs needed for victory, with Knight finishing unbeaten on 81 and Hussain 19.

Earlier James Anderson, recalled along with Steve Harmison to England's attack, made the first breakthrough with a lifting delivery that found the edge of Mark Bruyns' bat for Ashley Giles to take the catch at gully.

Giles then did even better at first slip, grasping a flashing edge from Michael Matika low to his left off Flintoff in the fourth over.

Craig White, brought on as first change, broke through with his second ball, a bouncer that Laden Gamiet tried to pull, succeeding only in skying it back to the bowler.

White struck again in his seventh over, as Justin Kreusch gloved another short ball down the leg side to stand-in wicketkeeper Marcus Trescothick.

Harmison also took two wickets on his comeback from an ankle injury which ruled him out of the VB series finals. He trapped Pieter Strydom lbw with one that kept low, putting paid to a fourth-wicket stand of 46 between the Border captain and Pope.

Craig Sugden was also adjudged lbw as wickets fell with regularity before Pope was joined by wicket-keeper Abongile Sodumo, who helped him add 81 for the seventh wicket.

Pope eventually departed when he mishit a sweep off Giles to Michael Vaughan at short fine leg, and Giles then bowled Sodumo around his legs for 36. He then took his third catch, as Liam Graham pulled Harmison to him at fine leg to give the Durham paceman his third wicket at the end of the innings.