England Lose Ashes Opener

Chasing the highest-ever total in this fixture - 301 for seven - England crumbled to 243 all out in reply.

The tourists' bowlers had no answer to the power-hitting of Kade Harvey, who made 114 off 88 balls, and Mike Hussey (69).

However, Nasser Hussain (68) and Robert Key (65) had briefly raised hopes with a 135-run partnership spanning 21 overs before the innings fizzled out.

Their reply began badly with Marcus Trescothick and Mark Butcher falling inside the first three overs to leave England struggling on 11 for two.

But Key and Hussain combined effectively to keep their side on course to overhaul the Chairman XI's total.

Once they fell within four overs of each other having both scored impressive half centuries, England's challenge collapsed and they lost their last five wickets for only 33 runs in nine overs.

The finale to England's reply was in keeping with an equally disappointing display in the field.

Though Simon Jones got through eight overs and took a wicket with his first ball, Steve Harmison delivered 16 wides during seven overs which cost 42 runs, including eight in one 14-ball over.

Matthew Hoggard and Andrew Caddick also struggled for rhythm and the sixth-wicket pair of Hussey and Harvey set about spinners Ashley Giles and Richard Dawson during a 152-run partnership.

Jones finally ended Hussey's resistance three overs before the end of the innings having been dropped earlier in the over by James Foster before Harvey's brilliant innings was ended in the final over when he clipped Caddick to Trescothick at third man.