Porter takes three wickets on return from stress fracture

Essex bowler stars as England Lions build lead against Jamaica XI at Sabina Park

Jamie Porter was the pick of the England Lions attack as they enjoyed a second competitive day in their warm-up match against a Jamaica XI at Sabina Park.

The Essex seamer, bowling in the middle for the first time since the discovery of a stress fracture in his lower back last autumn forced his withdrawal from the Lions’ pre-Christmas camp in Australia, ended with three for 24 as the Jamaicans were all out for 236, despite an excellent century from Aldane Thomas, a 23-year-old wicketkeeper-batsman.

That gave the Lions a first-innings lead of 27 and they extended it to 107 by the close of the second day for the loss of three wickets – Nick Gubbins, Haseeb Hameed and Liam Livingstone.

This is not a first-class game allowing the Lions to use eight bowlers, as they prepare for a three-match series against West Indies A which starts in Trelawny on Sunday.

^{Lawrence is 16 not out overnight}

Porter and Toby Roland-Jones had each taken two wickets in reducing the Jamaicans to 36 for four at the close of the first day, and the Sussex left-armer George Garton kept up the pressure by claiming two of the three that fell before lunch in a lively five-over burst.

Saqib Mahmood also bowled well without luck, and it was a similar story for Mason Crane who beat the bat regularly in his 13 overs but also ended wicketless.

Somerset spin twins Jack Leach and Dominic Bess claimed one apiece until Porter returned to have Thomas caught by Hameed at cover after making 109 from 185 balls, with 10 fours and two sixes.

The Lions then lost Hameed and Gubbins in consecutive overs with the score on 30 after they had formed a new opening partnership as captain Keaton Jennings dropped down the order after his first-innings century.

Joe Clarke hit a couple of boundaries late in the day and will resume tomorrow with Dan Lawrence, who has grafted to 16 off 40 balls.