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Napier Starts Well In Malaysia
By David Buxton January 31 2004
Essex's Graham Napier had an excellent start to the England A tour of Malaysia, with runs and wickets in the opening match against a Malaysia CA Invitational XI in Kuala Lumpur.
Napier Starts Well In Malaysia

Napes, as he's better known to his team mates, came in at number seven late in the innings and blasted a quickfire 27 from 30 balls, with three boundary fours. While at the crease, he shared partnerships of 24 for the sixth wicket with Surrey's Scott Newman (50) and then 58 for the seventh with fellow Graham, Warwickshire's Wagg, who smashed 38 in just 31 balls.

Kent's Ed Smith with 46 and Yorkshire's Michael Lumb (22) were also in the runs, as the A team scored 213-8 from their 46 allotted overs, after winning the toss.

After their scintillating run feast, Napier and Wagg then shared the new ball and Napier returned respectable figures of 3 overs 2-14, removing Suriaprakash for 1 then Lee first ball, but couldn't quite manage the hat-trick.

Wagg had a fine game also with figures of 5-2-4-3, while spinners Shaftab Khalid of Worcestershire and captain Jamie Tredwell of Kent mopped up the tail with two wickets a-piece.

Welcome news for the senior England team, with Simon Jones getting through 7 overs with one success at a cost of 19 runs, as the hosts were humbled for 101 with England winning comfortably by 112 runs.

So an encouraging start for England A and Napier and they move onto their next match of a tour that lasts until early March, with the main leg of travelling to India to come.

SCORE SUMMARY FROM MATCH ONE:

Malaysia CA Invitational XI v England A, Kuala Lumpur, 29/01/04, England A won toss, England A won by 112 runs

England A: 213-8 from 46 overs
(G.R. Napier 27, S.A. Newman 50, E.T. Smith 46, G.G. Wagg 38)

Malaysia CA Invitational XI: 101 All Out from 33.5 overs
(G.R. Napier 3-0-14-2 (4 wides), Wagg 5-2-4-3, J.C. Tredwell 5.5-2-12-2, S.A. Khalid 7-0-30-2, S.P. Jones 7-1-19-1 / NM Krishnamurthi 52)

For full scorecard, click here.

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Date: 31/1/04

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