PERTH, Oct 29 AAP - England captain Nasser Hussain's gritty century put the tourists in a strong position at stumps on the second day of a three-day cricket match against Western Australia.

The 34-year-old Essex batsman scored 117 from 220 balls in just under five hours to hand England a first innings lead of 114 runs at the WACA ground.

WA was 1-16 in its second innings, still trailing by 98 runs with Michael Hussey (14no) and Chris Rogers (0no) at the crease, after Andy Caddick (1-3) dismissed opener Scott Meuleman (1).

But the tourists undid a lot of their good work by losing the last five wickets in their first innings for 15 runs as quick Matthew Nicholson (6-79) mopped up the tail.

Nicholson also had success against the tourists in the corresponding fixture four years ago claiming 7-77 and earning himself a Test berth in the Boxing Day match in 1998.

Hussain had pleasant memories of that encounter having registered 118 himself in that tour match.

He brought up his hundred by guiding WA quick Brad Williams through gully before instantly raising his bat to the tourists' dressing rooms.

He had said the Australian tour was the hardest in world cricket at present.

But he will be buoyed by the tourists' improving performances in the past two days after a humbling opening week of their Ashes tour.

Paceman Caddick's fine bowling effort in the opening day and Hussain's defiant innings have given the tourists a glimmer of hope ahead of the opening Ashes Test in Brisbane starting Thursday week.

Hussain, who has an average of just under 39 from 18 Ashes Tests, made the most of a flattening pitch for his chance-less innings.

After resuming half an hour earlier to make up for a rain-affected opening day, opener Robert Key (33) didn't add to his overnight score.

Key, a late replacement for the unavailable Graham Thorpe (personal reasons), had looked dangerous as England scooted to 0-54 at stumps last night.

Williams (1-71) removed the Kent batsman with Nicholson taking the catch in the gully.

Left-handed opening partner Marcus Trescothick (46) also looked in fine touch but flashed at a wide ball from Nicholson and was well caught in slips by Michael Hussey.

Mark Butcher (29) and Hussain then put on a 59-run third wicket partnership before Butcher's luck ran out.

The Surrey left-hander survived a difficult caught and bowled opportunity by Brad Hogg on 27, before being dismissed after padding up to WA quick Jo Angel (2-62) just before the interval.

Hussain and John Crawley (45) overhauled the WA first innings total of 213 before Crawley chopped a wide ball from Stuart Karppinen back onto his stumps.

Hussain notched up his century before wicketkeeper-batsman Alec Stewart's quickfire innings of 29 was halted by Angel.

Nicholson then took 5-2 in the last session to have England collapse from 5-312 to 327 all out.

He ended Hussain's stoic knock before trapping Ashley Giles (0) in front to be on the verge of a hat-trick.

However Andy Caddick (6no), who scored an enterprising 62 in last week's two-day tour match, comfortably handled the next delivery.

But Nicholson was soon troubling the tourists again picking up Craig White (7), Simon Jones (4) and Stephen Harmison (4) to wrap up the innings.

© 2002 AAP

This report does not necessarily represent the views of the Australian Cricket Board.