Paul Collingwood's unbeaten hundred on his Durham home ground steered England to a first innings lead in the fourth and final Test against the West Indies at Riverside here Monday. At tea, on the fourth day, England were 341 for seven in reply to West Indies' 287, a lead of 54 runs.
All-rounder Collingwood was 115 not out, his second hundred of the series after his 111 in the drawn opener at Lord's and fifth in a 24-Test career. Durham team-mate Stephen Harmison was one not out. Collingwood, together with Matthew Prior (62), added 169 for the seventh wicket after Ian Bell fell cheaply to leave England in trouble at 165 for six.
Fast bowler Fidel Edwards, who ended the partnership when Prior hooked to Devon Smith at deep square leg, had figures at tea of five for 88 in 20 overs - the fifth time he had taken five wickets in a Test innings.
At lunch, England were 202 for six, 85 behind, with Collingwood 35 not out and Prior unbeaten on 16. Collingwood then went to fifty with a four through the slips off seamer Corey Collymore. West Indies captain Daren Ganga turned to the off-spin of Marlon Samuels, primarily a batsman, as England moved closer to parity.
The century stand came up in 165 balls when Collingwood cut Samuels for four, the second fifty up in 70 balls as England, with the new ball looming, cashed in against the lesser bowlers.
West Indies had let England off the hook, with Samuels's five overs costing 35 runs and by the time they took the new ball, as soon as it was available after 80 overs, their opponents were 295 for six.
Prior, who became the first England keeper to score a century on Test debut with 126 not out at Lord's, scythed the first delivery with the new ball, from Collymore, over the slips for four and next ball completed an 87-ball fifty in style by lofting the seamer over mid-wicket for six. England have an unassailable 2-0 lead in the four-match series.
-- West Indies 1st Innings 287 (S Chanderpaul 136 no; R Sidebottom 5-88)
-- England 1st Innings (overnight: 121-4)
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A. Strauss c Ramdin b Edwards 77
A. Cook c Ramdin b Edwards 13
M. Vaughan c Bravo b Edwards 19
M. Hoggard c Gayle b Collymore 0
K. Pietersen c Ramdin b Edwards 0
P. Collingwood b Collymore 128
I. Bell c Morton b Powell 11
M. Prior c Smith b Edwards 62
S. Harmison c Ganga b Powell 9
R. Sidebottom not out 26
M. Panesar b Powell 4
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Extras: (b5, lb8, w15, nb23) 51
Total: (all out, 100 overs) 400
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