Photos: Cook leads England fightback vs India 'A'

Skipper Alastair Cook compiled a patient, unbeaten century as England amassed 286 for 4 in their first innings, in reply to India A's 369 on Day 2 of the three-day tour game, at the Brabourne stadium, in Mumbai, on Wednesday.

The left-handed opener scored 112, inclusive of 13 fours, and shared a 153-run stand with Samit Patel (82) for the unfinished fifth-wicket, which helped the side recover from 133 for four.

Patel, who joined Cook just before tea, hit 12 boundaries in his 145-ball knock.

- 'Plan to bowl Yuvraj and get Pietersen worked well'

The England innings started on a poor note as rookie opener Nick Compton, grandson of former England great Dennis, fell for a third-ball duck to Ashok Dinda.

Cook and Johanthan Trott then batted resolutely to prevent the early loss of more wickets before comeback man Yuvraj Singh and Suresh Raina did well with the ball as England floundered against the part-time spinners.

Kevin Pietersen scored a quickfire 23 on his return to England colours before falling to old nemesis Yuvraj Singh.

Pietersen had dubbed Yuvraj a "pie-chucker" on England's last trip to India four years back after getting out several times to the left-arm spinner.

Ian Bell too flopped, out caught, when he edged one to Raina in the slips.

Cook reached his hundred post-tea with a single to long-on in 314 minutes, off 207 balls. At that time he had struck 12 fours.

The England skipper and Patel, who was dropped by Wridhiman Saha off Parwinder Awana on 29, later stepped up the tempo of scoring against the struggling home team attack, which lacked a frontline spinner.