The Nottinghamshire wicketkeeper hit a valuable 82 as England were finally dismissed for 333 to claim a 91-run lead on the second day of their final tour match against Bangladesh A.

His efforts lifted England's spirits after the top order once again failed to fire with just four days before the start of the Test series, with only opener Marcus Trescothick making a major contribution with 96.

Read, who contributed a useful 43 in the drawn opening game of the tour, continued his good work with the bat by hitting a six and 11 boundaries after the tourist had slumped to 176 for five.

He forged a crucial 116-run partnership with Gareth Batty, who also hit a determined 50, and demonstrated a resolve which the top order failed to match with seamer Alamgir Kabir claiming three for 58.

England's reply had begun badly with Vaughan continuing his bad streak as captain - he has only passed 50 once in 19 innings leading the team - by being trapped leg before by Kabir with a delivery which kept low.

Paul Collingwood was bowled for a duck four balls later to leave the tourists struggling on three for two, but that set the stage for Trescothick to overcome temperatures in excess of 100.

He forged a promising 57-run stand with Nasser Hussain, whose concentration may have been broken by the sighting of a killer cobra among the crowd which was battered to death by spectators with chairs, until he edged behind.

By the time Graham Thorpe had arrived at the crease, the snake commotion had died down although he lasted only five overs before being given leg before to seamer Tareq Aziz.

It was another 17 overs before Kabir ended Trescothick's 168-minute stay at the crease, which included four sixes and 10 fours, and halted the productive 91-run stand with Rikki Clarke, who made a determined 43 before driving to cover shortly before tea.

But just as England looked set to capitulate, Read found another willing ally in Batty and they were able to guide their side into a comfortable lead and by the close the A team had reached six without loss in reply.

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