On the opening day of the two day game in which side both sides had to bowl ninety overs, Coventrian Ian Bell made 44 after Alastair Cook was out for 16 and Owais Shah was out for four off the bowling off Jason Holder.
Wicket keeper Tim Ambrose made 74 from 109 balls and hit thirteen fours before he was caught. Ravi Bopara made 124 as England declared on 351-8.
Ambrose, who could feature in the fourth test which starts in Barbados on Thursday if Matty Prior's wife goes into labour, took two catches as the BCA closed on 49-4.