Simmons punishes England

The 24-year-old Simmons registered his career-best score in a total of 574 for eight declared. His marathon effort was terminated by Ryan Sidebottom's first first-class success in six months: trapped leg before from around the wicket.

England put the quality of the surface into context by racing to 134 for two by the close. Although Alastair Cook sliced to gully first ball, captain Andrew Strauss and Ian Bell both struck half-centuries.

Bell extended his tendency to get out when well set, however, failing to take advantage of being dropped on 49, when five overs from the close he was bowled around his legs sweeping leg-spinner Gavin Wallace.

England were given 28 overs to occupy on the second evening by a West Indies second string intent on making their opponents labour ahead of next Wednesday's first Test.

The declaration came not with Simmons' departure but following a quick double strike from Steve Harmison after the tea interval.

Simmons hit eight sixes and 26 fours during more than nine and a half hours at the crease

James Anderson doubled his personal wicket tally in the morning session when, after working Sewnarine Chattergoon outside off-stump, he induced a nibble through to Prior.

Durham paceman Harmison's post-lunch spell then reaped a double breakthrough: extra bounce undoing Leon Johnson and a fortuitous leg before decision accounting for home captain Darren Sammy.

Harmison finished with four for 101 after accounting for Devon Thomas and Kevin McClean during a spell in which the bowlers managed to exact some reverse swing.