Trescothick and Stewart put England in front against Governor's XI in Peshawar

An excellent innings by Marcus Trescothick, which ended just seven short of a century, went a long way in guiding England to 241 for 5 by close of play in Peshawar.

Trescothick paced his innings well, holding up his end when wickets were falling, and then playing more freely as the England innings progressed.

Along with Alec Stewart he added 65 for the fourth wicket in less than an hour. He had just reached his half-century when Stewart joined him and, from there he accelerated, hitting sixteen fours and a six before being stumped, having gone down the wicket for a big drive. He had earlier given only one difficult chance, when he was dropped at mid-wicket on 36.

Stewart continued the good work, bringing up the 200 with a straight hit to the boundary, and two balls later lifted a six over long on. He reached fifty from 104 balls as had Trescothick earlier

When his fine innings ended, caught behind for 59 having faced 116 balls with eight fours and two sixes, England were leading by 17.

With the exception of Trescothick and Stewart, the rest of the top order batsmen struggled against the Governor's XI bowlers.

Having dismissed the opposition in their first innings for 224, England lost three wickets for 112. Michael Atherton went first with the total on 35.

Atherton was dropped behind the stumps on 14, from on inside edge to a rising ball, and on 22, attempting a hook, he top edged to third slip. Nasser Hussain then added 40 with Trescothick before being trapped leg before wicket on 15.

The last wicket to fall before tea was Michael Vaughan. He was fortunate to make 20, having earlier escaped with an edge between second and third slip.

To make up for the time lost on the previous day, play had begun half an hour early, in bright sunshine in contrast to the conditions yesterday.

Earlier, England had taken just over an hour this morning to claim the remaining wickets. Andy Caddick struck early, ending Yasir Hameed's three-hour innings of 57, after six runs had been added to the overnight total of 173 for 5.

The hard-hitting Mohammad Hussain continued his attacking innings, and reached his half-century from 76 balls when he drove Darren Gough to extra-cover for his eighth boundary.

He then top-edged Gough for four over the wicket-keeper, as he had done earlier to Caddick. Attempting a hook again, on 65, Hussain mistimed the shot and was held at deep fine leg. The Governor's X1 were then 211 for 8.

The innings by Stewart was a welcome return to form and action for the Surrey man after his problems of recent days.

"It was nice to be back playing again," he admitted, "I'm very happy with the way the game's gone both for the team and myself with the bat and gloves.

"I didn't feel any different walking out to bat, I simply approached it as I would do any other game."

His partner for much of the innings, Marcus Trescothick, paid tribute to Stewart's professionalism.

"Alec played fantastically well. He didn't seem any different to the way he's been before," said Trescothick. "We've batted a fair bit together over the past year and he was really no different at all.

"From the first ball he faced he looked very good, very confident and it was very pleasing to see. He is such a good player, dominates the bowling and he's an easy person to bat with.

"You don't really have to do anything when the guy at the other end is playing so well, he's always going to take it to the bowling and he gives you a chance to relax.

"There are certain people you do feed from pretty well and Alec's one I do get it from. We have a good understanding and it helps my game to sit back and watch someone bat the way he does."