31 January,2009 01:40 PM IST | | AFP
England's batsmen finally got a chance, after Lendl Simmons missed out on a triple hundred for West Indies-A in their tour match today.
England's bowlers would have been relieved when West Indies-A declared on 574 for eight in their first innings in the first hour after tea, following a magnificent 282 from Simmons on the second day of the three-day match at Warner Park.
Andrew Strauss then hit an unbeaten 59 and Ian Bell supported with 52, as England reached 134 for two at the close.
England suffered an early setback, when Alastair Cook was caught at gully off Kevin McClean for a first-ball duck.
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Strauss and Bell then helped England recover, when they entertained in a 114-run, second wicket stand.
Bell however, succeeded in finding another means of throwing his wicket away. After he was dropped on 49, leg-spinner Gavin Wallace bowled him around his legs five overs before stumps.
But England's bowlers had been worn down earlier in the day, when Simmons continued to dominate with his majestic innings, when West Indies-A resumed on 343 for two.
He spent almost 9-1/2 hours at the crease in which time he collected 26 fours and eight sixes from 381 balls.
Paul Collingwood was the unfortunate bowler, when Simmons, the nephew of former West Indies all-rounder Phil Simmons, gathered a single off his modest medium-paced bowling to reach the 200-run mark.
England had succeeded in taking an early wicket, when James Anderson had Sewnarine Chattergoon caught behind off Steve Harmison for 37, following a 100-run stand with Simmons.
But England again hit the wall, when Leon Johnson came to the wicket and carried the A-Team to 462 for three at lunch before Harmison made inroads after the interval.
Harmison enhanced his chances of a place in the 11 for the first Test, starting next Wednesday in Jamaica, when he claimed the scalps of Johnson for 26 and A-Team captain Darren Sammy for 14.
Further frustration came for England, when wicketkeeper/batsman Devon Thomas scored 38 and added 57 for the sixth wicket with Simmons.
But Ryan Sidebottom broke the stand, when he trapped Simmons lbw before Harmison added Thomas and Kevin McClean for 10 to end with four wickets for 101 runs from 25.5 overs.
Anderson ended with two for 92 from 29 overs.
