North, Harmison reinforce Ashes claim
Posted on Jul 03, 2009 at 19:41 | Updated Jul 04, 2009 at 02:06
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Worcester (England): Marcus North all but booked his place in Australia's side for next week's first Ashes Test after making a century on Friday in his final innings before the series opener with England.
North finished the third day of the four-day tour match against the second-string England Lions here at New Road on 106 not out.
His score was the centrepiece of a second innings total that saw Australia end on 276 for four, a lead of 282 runs.
Meanwhile, Stephen Harmison also reinforced his claims for England's third quick berth in the first Test at Cardiff by skittling out Australian rookie Phillip Hughes and captain Ricky Ponting.
Durham quick Harmison, dropped by England in the Caribbean earlier this year, took two wickets for 36 runs to add to his first innings four for 80.
Melbourne-born left-hander North, who had scored one, 11 and one in his three previous warm-up innings on this tour, made his Ashes spot certain with a resolute, 168-ball ton over almost four hours following his temporay promotion above Michael Clarke and Michael Hussey to No 4.
Leading into an Ashes series there's a pressure to score runs," North said after stumps. "Especially the position I'm in where I've only played a couple of Tests and am looking to cement my position.
"There was a bit of pressure leading into the Test without a score and without time in the middle. But I'm pleased that the hard work off the track has come into the game today."
Clarke, Australia's vice-captain, also played assuredly for his 80 before holing out to the long-on boundary from Vikram Solanki's gentle spinners in the shadows of stumps.
But this match has had a sobering effect on rising star Hughes, who can expect plenty of short stuff in Cardiff after being bounced out for the second time in as many innings by a fired up Harmison.
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