Ashes 2017: Embattled England narrowly avoid embarrassing warm-up defeat

It was still not until the final over of the match that home hopes were done and England could breathe easily

England survived a scare in Perth (Getty)

England found scant respite on the pitch as they diced with danger and only narrowly dodged adding an embarrassing defeat against a Cricket Australia XI to their barroom woes.

While team management ponder what disciplinary measures to dole out to Lions opener Ben Duckett for pouring beer over all-time leading wicket-taker James Anderson's head during a night out on Thursday, a two-day tour match without too much extra drama was doubtless on the wish-list.

In the end, they just about got that at Richardson Park - although for several overs, after CA captain Travis Dean (100) and his opening partner Will Bosisto (50) had racked up a quickfire stand of 152, it appeared Moeen Ali's second-string team was perhaps literally contriving to lose.

The two camps had agreed a victory target of 294 in a minimum 37 overs, following three declarations.

With the CA openers then soon in full flow against an apparently vulnerable attack, it was no foregone conclusion that England would close out at least a stalemate.

Ultimately, the hosts finished a few more big hits short on 269 for eight as Moeen persisted with spinners Jack Leach (four for 104) and Mason Crane to keep buying wickets.

Another bruising half-century stand between Clint Hinchliffe and Mac Wright kept the chase just about on - with Leach going at more than 10-an-over - but Tom Curran (three for 28) had already done just enough to spare further England blushes.

There were two wickets for Mark Wood in CA's first innings, as he seeks to press left-field ambition to be added to a full Test squad which will return to Ashes action 2-0 down with three to play at the WACA on Thursday.

After the hosts resumed on 62 for one on the final morning, Jake Doran mis-pulled Wood to deep midwicket and Dean played on as three wickets fell for eight runs before an unbroken stand of 74 out of 151 for four declared.


 The hosts threatened an unlikely victory 
 (Getty)

After the lunchtime deal, Keaton Jennings failed to add to his previous day's 80, caught at gully for a golden duck from Gabe Bell's first legitimate ball of the innings.

But Moeen and Gary Ballance then both bagged 40s as England reached 130 for three in a pre-agreed 20 overs to set up the target.

As the hosts took up the challenge, Dan Lawrence dropped a routine slip chance off Wood to reprieve Bosisto on just eight - and by the time the same fielder took his second opportunity to see off the opener, well-judged off Leach at wide long-off, the boundaries had been coming thick and fast.

Dean had the lion's share, and hit 16 fours and two sixes in a dashing century from just 68 balls.

He too holed out in the deep off the returning Curran, but it was still not until the final over of the match that home hopes were done and England could breathe easily.