By the close of play in Barbados today, Ian Ward had batted for 32 hours for a total of 575 runs in the Busta Cup after his outstanding run of form continued with a third century in three matches.

The England A opener put on 224 runs for the first wicket with Michael Powell and finished with an unbeaten 131 to put his side into a commanding position at the end of the first day's play in the fourth round match against Barbados.

He completed his century in just under four and a half hours making this third hundred of the tour his quickest so far. His previous two hundreds in Trinidad and Grenada took a total of 16 hours and but he has clocked up the equivalent of a day and a half at the crease since he arrived on tour.

"It went very well and I feel really good," said the weary Ward at stumps.

"The runs seem to be coming easily at the moment but it helps when you have someone like Michael Powell at the other end. He played really well and it was unfortunate that he got out when he did. He plays the reverse sweep really well and had eyed up the field so he knew it was a shot that might work. But sometimes things don't go to plan and I felt for him."

The Warwickshire captain, who learned the reverse sweep from his county coach Bob Woolmer, made a rash decision to play the shot when he was four runs short of his century but the ball rapped him on his pads, giving Barbados their first wicket of the day.

Powell was upset at his failure to reach the hundred but said he was in good form and already looking forward to his next innings.

"The reverse sweep is a shot I play a lot and although it was the first time I had played it in this game, I felt the way the field was set gave me an opportunity. I was not looking for four runs, just to get bat on ball but it didn't work.

"Three weeks ago I was in South Africa but now I am with England A with a 75 and 96 under my belt so I am confident the big one is just round the corner," he commented attempting to contain his disappointment.

Usman Afzaal Photo Paul McGregor

Earlier, England A skipper Mark Alleyne won the toss and chose to bat first on a pitch that offered opportunities for big scores. Without Aftab Habib and Graeme Swann who were both ruled out with injury, selectors decided to recall Nottinghamshire's Usman Afzaal with Jonathan Lewis preferred to Ryan Sidebottom and Paul Franks as third seamer to Chris Silverwood and Alex Tudor.

The opening pair got off to a blistering start making 63 runs in the first hour, helped by some expensive bowling from Barbados captain Ian Bradshaw, whose four overs went for 11 runs a piece.

But the introduction of 19 year-old off spinner Ryan Austin into the attack saw England A slow their scoring rate and at lunch they were 97 without loss though Powell had survived a chance while on 33 when he was dropped at short leg off Austin.

Both openers completed their half-centuries soon after the interval and Ward finally lost his partner after they had recorded the highest ever opening stand since England A started touring in 1989/90 with Darren Maddy and Michael Vaughan establishing a record of 151 against South Africa in Johannesburg in 1998/99.

By the close, Vikram Solanki batting ahead of John Crawley, had added 25 runs to the total leaving England A in a strong position at the end of the first day at 266 .

Manager James Whitaker paid tribute to Ward and said it had been a good day for England A.

"It was a pretty good day - fantastic for Ian to get another hundred. Three games in between with an 86 sandwiched in between which is outstanding and Vikram did well to go in there at the end having waited around all day. We would have settled for 266 for one going into the second day.

"His powers of concentration is the thing that stands out and the discipline and solidity he provides in the opening slot has injected a lot of confidence and determination in the rest of the guys in following suit."

© 2001 CricInfo Ltd