Thorpe smashes Windies

Graham Thorpe waded in with a flurry of boundaries as Brian Lara's bowlers were given a bit more competition than they wanted at Arundel today.

West Indies captain Lara reckoned yesterday that the MCC XI were a "bit lacking" in quality after taking a magical century off them while leading his side to 373 for six.

Twenty-fours later, though, he watched the invitation side race to 210 for four at a rate of nearly five runs an over.

Middlesex's Sven Koenig (79) and Essex youngster Alastair Cook (49) did the early damage, putting together an opening stand of 105 as Test pacemen Pedro Collins, Fidel Edwards and Jermaine-Lawson laboured on a slow pitch. Then Thorpe - who will renew battle with the West Indies at Lord's next Thursday - took control.

The Surrey and England left-hander raced to 32 from just 39 balls with five fours and a six before he miscued a pull against Lawson.

Earlier, Thorpe's international teammates Matthew Hoggard and Simon Jones had polish off the tourists' first innings for 380 with three wickets between them in the space of eight balls.

Glamorgan paceman Jones trapped Collins lbw for two before Hoggard bowled Lawson first ball.