THE PCA England Masters saw off the challenge of King’s College’s first XI to run out 46-run winners in last week’s (July 2) T20 clash, writes Richard Walsh.

Many of the legends of cricket’s recent past turned out to face the King’s first XI, including England bowling legend Andy Caddick and batsman Mark Ramprakash - who notched up 100 centuries in his long career before going onto wider acclaim by winning the BBC Strictly Come Dancing series.

Lots of the attention also focused on the three players who played such a big part in the 2005 Ashes winning series, bowlers Matthew Hoggard and Simon Jones, and batsman Marcus Trescothick who was making his debut for the Masters in his own backyard.

Batting first in front of a large and enthusiastic crowd the Masters hit 192 for five, of which Ramprakash made a classy 42, before becoming the first of leg spinner Calvin Harrison’s victims and Chris Schofield scored 40, before being well caught by James Clark off Luke Tompkins.

Harrison was the pick of the bowlers ending with two for 29 from his four overs, while James Turpin from St Austell ended with one for 27, after claiming the prized scalp of Trescothick.

When King’s replied Eddie Byrom gave them a flying start when he drove Hoggard’s first delivery of the innings to the boundary. The 17 year old raced to 22 before Hoggard had him caught by ‘keeper Trescothick.

Bradley Lynch then took over the run scoring mantle and brought a huge cheer from the crowd when he hit Caddick back over his head for six, the first maximum of the King’s innings before being caught by Ramprakash for 29.

Liam Redrup took two off Schofield to see up the 100 in the 15th over before in the next he drove Usman Afzaal high over the long off boundary for six.

When Redrup departed for an impressive 37, young Charles Clyst who has just been named in the West of England side hit a few late boundaries and had moved onto 20 before the King’s innings ended with the total on 146 for seven, to give England Masters victory by 46 runs.

Afterwards England captain Ramprakash said: “It is always a pleasure to play at a beautiful venue like this where the groundsman has done a great job to prepare such a fantastic wicket is just wonderful.

“I was hugely impressed by the team, who were obviously very well coached and had a great attitude.

“They had very good skills with bat and ball and were really athletic in the field and acquitted themselves really well, and we hope they enjoyed their afternoon as much as we did.”