Glamorgan seamer James Harris checked Australia A’s progress with a six-wicket haul to give the England Lions a share of the first-day honours in the second unofficial Test at Edgbaston.
Harris, who took only one wicket in last week’s drawn match at Old Trafford, was the pick of the seam attack taking six for 102.
Harris, who missed the first two months of the season with a groin injury, recovered well after Liam Davis had taken three fours from his first two overs.
Kent off-spinner James Tredwell also chipped in with three wickets as the Lions fought back well to restrict the Australians to 308 for nine on Tuesday.
Harris took the important wicket of Phil Hughes who was one of three Australians, all with Test experience, to pass 50.
Hughes, drafted into Australia’s squad to replace the injured Peter Forrest after a productive stint in county cricket with Worcestershire, made a fluent 51 and shared a third-wicket stand of 93 with his captain Ed Cowan but then mistimed a drive off Harris to Joe Root at cover.
Harris returned after tea to bowl Joe Burns and then Nathan Coulter-Nile with length deliveries to claim the ninth five-wicket haul of his career.
Tredwell took three wickets either side of tea including Cowan.
The left-handed opener looked compact and well-organised in his 73, made from 166 ball with seven fours and top-edged six off Harris.
But Cowan was clearly unhappy when umpire Neil Mallender gave him out lbw sweeping at Tredwell and he shook his head on his way back to the pavilion.
Tredwell struck again with his first ball after tea when Tom Cooper edged one that turned to wicketkeeper Craig Kieswetter and the same combination accounted for Mitchell Johnson, one of five Test caps in a strong Australia A side.
Warwickshire seamer Chris Woakes was unlucky not to take a wicket on his home ground during a testing afternoon spell in which he conceded only 12 runs in nine overs and had Burns dropped by Samit Patel at second slip.
Patel also dropped Tim Paine in the slips off Tredwell on four, a reprieve that allowed the Australian wicketkeeper to complete a busy 69-ball 50 before he was caught behind fanning down the legside at Harris.
