Jones steams in for England

Tamil Nadu 272 for 6 (Vasudevadas 78*) trail England A 368 (Pietersen 147) by 96 runs
Scorecard

Simon Jones: three wickets to lift England's spirits

After two weeks of sustained bad luck and bad results, England A were finally given something to smile about, as Simon Jones came through his first sustained workout since his horrific knee injury in November 2002. By the close of the second day against Tamil Nadu, Jones had picked up three wickets to leave England in a strong position.

With their first-day centurion Kevin Pietersen absent through injury, England added another 24 runs to their overnight 344 for 8, before Shaftab Khalid was bowled by Rajamani Jesuraj to leave James Tredwell not out on 33. Jones went wicketless in his first spell of the day, as Tamil Nadu's openers added 58, but once Graeme Wagg had made the breakthrough, Jones returned with a bang in the afternoon.

His first victim was Sivamakrishnan Vidyut, who was caught by Bilal Shafayat for a well-compiled 48, and when Simon Francis removed the captain Somasetty Suresh for 30, Jones immediately bowled SS Viswanathan for a first-ball duck (117 for 4). England met with stiff resistance thereafter, as Kuthethurshri Vasudevadas and Esak Suresh added 129 for the fifth wicket.

But Suresh was trapped lbw by Michael Lumb for 42, before Jones steamed in to pick up his third wicket of the innings, Ganesh Kumar for 10. He finished with 3 for 47 in 17 hostile overs, as Tamil Nadu closed on 272 for 6 - still trailing by 96 runs, but with the dangerous Vasudevadas still unbeaten on 78.