PORT ELIZABETH, South Africa, Jan 11 (AFP) - South African Invitation XI captain Neil
McKenzie and all-rounder Justin Ontong hung on long enough to prevent England from
snatching a possible win in their three-day encounter at St. George's Park here Tuesday.

When the match was eventually abandoned as a draw, the Invitation XI had scored 253-7
declared and 223-6 to England's 331.

McKenzie and Ontong did most of the hard work through a fourth-wicket partnerhip of 114, but tailenders Roger Telemachus (50) and Greg Smith (35) also contributed an unbeaten 82.

McKenzie ended up with 80, Ontong with 34 and together they lifted the Invitation XI's second innings from a parlous 17-3 wkts.

McKenzie said he had been a bit disappointed at stand-in England captain Graeme Hick's
reluctance to make a game of it after he had declared the Invitation XI's first innings on
Sunday afternoon.

''I thought Hick might have declared at tea-time Monday,'' said McKenzie. ''I =find their tactics a bit puzzling. Mind you, it would probably have been a different story if they had beaten us.''