Lendl Simmons crafted a magnificent 282 as West Indies A compiled 574-8 declared against England on day two yesterday of their cricket match at Warner Park.

The tourists responded encouragingly in the final session, reaching stumps at 134-2, despite the loss of Alastair Cook for a first-ball duck. Captain Andrew Strauss was unbeaten on 59, while Ian Bell made 52.

Simmons stretched his over-night 171 to a career-best, just missing out on joining 12 other West Indians as first-class triple centurions. The lithe Trinidadian, who celebrated his 24th birthday five days ago, struck 26 fours and eight sixes off 381 deliveries. He spent nine and a half hours at the crease before he was leg before to Ryan Sidebottom, the left-arm seamer's only wicket.

Steve Harmison, chasing a spot in the team for the first Test in Jamaica next Wednesday, had a confidence-boosting day after going wicketless on day one. The fast bowler collected four of the six wickets to fall after the hosts resumed on 343-2. Harmison ended with respectable figures of 4-101 off 25.5 overs.