Umpire collapses at Lions game with Australia

2009-07-04 18:47:02 -

WORCESTER, England (AP) - Umpire Jeff Evans collapsed towards the end of the England Lions' four-day game against Australia on Saturday, prompting the Ashes warmup match to be called off.
Evans, who will be 55 next month, collapsed in the 48th over during the Lions' second innings. He tried to get to his feet but fell to the ground once again and was soon surrounded by all the players.
Paramedics and a doctor came to attend to Evans, who was on his feet within five minutes. He was given a glass of water by Australia's physiotherapist.
The captains agreed to call off the match, which had already passed the tea interval on Saturday and was heading for a draw.
Evans, who had umpired for four days in hot and sunny conditions, then walked from the field and seemed to recover.
The Lions, set an impossible 445 for victory in two sessions, finished on 162 for four, after Australia had declared its second innings on 438 for four at lunch. Marcus North warmed up for Wednesday's first Ashes test at Cardiff by taking his overnight century to 191 not out.
The Australians' match practice is now complete and they will face England in the first of five Tests, seeking to retain the Ashes they won 5-0 in 2006-07. England drew its last warm-up against Warwickshire on Friday.
Left-hander North, who scored a century in his first test innings in February against South Africa, attacked the Lions' bowling on a pitch described by Steve Harmison on Friday as «dead.
North used his experience from playing for five different English county teams by despatching anything wayward. He played a slog-sweep for four against part-time leg-spinner Joe Denly to go to his 150 and another four and six in Denly's next over boosted his score further to 170.
He was dropped at waist height by Harmison off his own bowling when on 120 with the score 327 for four at the time. Mike Hussey retired on 62 with an ankle injury sustained in practice before play resumed but later fielded. Hussey scored 150 in the first innings.
Denly top-scored for the Lions with 36, while Mitchell Johnson claimed two wickets after conceding 118 runs in the first innings from his 26 overs.