Career-best Simmons piles on misery for England

Lendl Simmons smashed a career-best 282 as West Indies A piled up 574-8 declared on the second day of their three-day tour match against England yesterday.

At stumps, England reached 134-2 with skipper Andrew Strauss unbeaten on 59.

Ian Bell made 52 to reinforce his push for a place in the team for next week's first Test despite competition from Owais Shah for the No 3 spot.

But the day belonged again to Simmons, the 24-year-old nephew of former Test all-rounder Phil Simmons, who resumed on his overnight 171 and made 111 more before falling lbw to left-arm seamer Ryan Sidebottom.

Trinidadian Simmons hit 26 fours and eight sixes revelling in Warner Park's batsman-friendly boundaries.

England used seven bowlers with Steve Harmison the most successful, but even his four wickets cost 101 runs.

After five sessions in the field, England's reply got off to the worst possible start when Alastair Cook edged his first ball to Leon Johnson at gully off Kevin McClean.

Bell, dropped on 49, was bowled around his legs by spinner Gavin Wallace.