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West Indies A batsmen falter

England A 201 and 60 for 2 lead West Indies A 221 (Joseph 44, Simmons 45, Mahmood 3-28) by 40 runs
Scorecard

Another close finish was on the cards as the second day of the second unofficial Test between West Indies A and England A ended with the honours being shared after the second day in St Lucia.
Resuming on 50 for no loss in reply to England's 201, West Indies were dismissed for 221 to snatch a narrow 20-run lead. England, batting a second time, were 60 for 2 when bad light intervened with six overs left in the day.

Sewnarine Chattergoon and Lendl Simmons, the openers, lifted their stand to 85 before both fell in quick succession. Chattergoon was caught and bowled by Sajid Mahmood for 36, while Simmons was bowled by Stuart Broad for 45.

England were soon to enjoy further success when Marlon Samuels, who stroked a century in the last game, fended a sharp rising delivery from Mahmood for Ed Joyce to take a sharp catch, diving to his right at second slip to dismiss the batsman without scoring.

West Indies went to lunch on 108 for 3 with Dale Richards on 20 and Sylvester Joseph, the captain, on one but on resumption, the right-handed Richards went to a running catch at deep midwicket off Rikki Clarke to leave West Indies at 109 for 4.

Ryan Hinds, who missed the last game through illness, did not last long as he offered a simple catch to Vikram Solanki at mid-on, attempting a pull off Clarke, when he had made just 4. Patrick Browne became Clarke's third victim, while Kelly was trapped leg-before by offspinner Gareth Batty for 16.

Joseph batted responsibly for 44 before he offered a tame catch to Chris Read, the wicketkeeper, off Alex Wharf to leave the West Indies at 139 for 8 at the stroke of tea. Dave Mohammed then rallied the lower order with an unbeaten 32 before the innings closed. Mahmood finished with 3 for 28 and Clarke claimed 3 for 37.

In the 17 overs before the close, Andrew Richardson, the fast bowler, struck twice to leave England struggling at 33 for 2 before Joyce (27 not out), and Solanki, the captain (12 not out), steadied the innings.