Nasser Hussain hit an unbeaten century on Thursday on the first day of the four-day match against the West Indies' A team.

England, who lost the toss and were put in to bat, looked anything but happy as they slumped to 30 for three.

But by the close of play they had snatched back the initiative and reached 293 for four.

Thorpe's 81 is his highest international score

The highly-rated West Indies pace newcomers Nixon McLean and Reon King got the home side off to an excellent start by sending Alec Stewart, John Crawley and the captain Mike Atherton packing in a devastating 22-ball spell.

But then Hussain and Graham Thorpe, who made 89 in last week's opening tour match against Jamaica in Montego Bay, came together in a remarkable recovery.

Hussain ended the day unbeaten after 359 minutes at the crease during which he faced 293 balls and hit 18 fours.

But the England total was also enhanced by Adam Hollioake who made 33 not out from 45 deliveries and who added 79 with Hussain before the close.

Thorpe, who continued to show excellent form before next week's first Test at Sabina Park, finally departed for 81 after attempting to pull Test leg-spinner Rawl Lewis.

His badly timed shot left King an easy catch at mid-on with the score on 214.

At the start of play McLean had greeted the captain Mike Atherton with an ominous bouncer off the first ball, but the England openers had then looked comfortable until Alec Stewart and John Crawley were dismissed in the space of three deliveries by King.

Atherton then fell to McLean in the 11th over.

Stewart aimed a drive but diverted the ball into his stumps, and Crawley pushed at his second ball and was taken at first slip by King's Guyana team-mate Keith Semple.

McLean proceeded to beat Atherton twice outside off stump before having the England captain taken at second slip by substitute Kerron Baker at the third attempt.

Scoreboard

England first innings:

• M Atherton c sub b Mclean 8
• A Stewart b King 12
• J Crawley c Semple b King 0
• N Hussain not out 131
• G Thorpe c King b Lewis 81
• A Hollioake not out 33

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