North Sound, Antigua: England overcame a late order collapse before lunch to regain the initiative in the final two sessions of the second day of the first test against the West Indies on Tuesday.
Strongly placed at 341 for five after the first day, England was all out for 399 just before lunch, losing its last five wickets for 42 at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium.
It required a last wicket partnership of 38 between fast bowlers Chris Jordan, who was unbeaten on 21, and Jimmy Anderson, 20, to get them there after four wickets fell for four runs against fast bowlers Jerome Taylor, Kemar Roach and Jason Holder in the space of 52 balls.
But the West Indies had to fight hard against England's steady bowling to end the day on 155 for four in reply, still 45 away from the possibility of the follow-on.
Left-handers Devon Smith and Darren Bravo were both out cheaply. Smith's wicket to wicketkeeper Jos Buttler's catch was Anderson's 381st in his 100th test, and took him to within two of Ian Botham's England test record of 383.
Opener Kraigg Brathwaite and Marlon Samuels ensured they lost no more wickets before tea, which was taken at 84 for two. But their dismissals within 10 runs of each other in the last session tightened England's grip on the match.
Samuels edged to Buttler off Stuart Broad at 33 and Brathwaite fell for 39 to Jordan's sharp catch from off-spinner James Tredwell.
Shivnarine Chanderpaul, aged 40 in his 162nd test, and 23-year-old Jermaine Blackwood, playing in his sixth test, battled through the last 27.4 overs of play. Chanderpaul will resume Wednesday on 29, with Blackwood on 30.
Blackwood rode his luck when he edged a catch to England captain Alastair Cook at 21 off Ben Stokes. The dismissal was revoked after the TV replay showed Stokes had delivered over the bowling crease.
Resuming after the first day on 341 for five, England collapsed in the first session under pressure from Taylor, Roach and Holder.
Stokes, who continued from his overnight 71, added eight before he was first out, steering a catch to gully off Taylor. Night watchman Tredwell followed for eight, removed by Holder, while Buttler and Broad both went without scoring.
Roach finished with four for 94 for the West Indies. Taylor took three for 90 and Holder two for 69.
