Windies in dire straits

Jermaine Blackwood's half-century could not prevent England tightening their grip on the third Test as the West Indies struggled to 139 for seven at tea in reply to the visitors' first innings total of 257 on Saturday.

After James Anderson mowed through the top order of the West Indies batting before lunch, four different bowlers contributed with a wicket each in the afternoon despite Blackwood's stroke-filled defiance.

He resumes in the day's final session on 67 off just 71 deliveries, having stroked nine fours and three sixes.

However with Veerasammy Permaul as his partner and the other two tailenders to follow, England will fancy their chances of earning a decent first innings lead on a pitch that is deteriorating rapidly.

Blackwood came to the crease within minutes of the restart after lunch as Moeen Ali's off-spin drew a lazy stroke from Darren Bravo for Chris Jordan to take the first of two catches at slip.

His second was a much more spectacular effort, diving to his right after initially being wrong-footed to hold on to the chance offered by Shivnarine Chanderpaul off Joe Root after the veteran had got to 25 and featured in a 45-run fifth-wicket partnership with Blackwood.

SCORES IN BRIEF

ENGLAND: First innings 257 (Cook 105, Root 33, Moeen 58, Stokes 22; Taylor 3-36, Gabriel 2-47, Holder 2-34)

WEST INDIES: First Innings 139 for 7 (Blackwood 67 not out, Chanderpaul 25; Anderson 3-13)