Colly flowers to prove point

With injured captain Michael Vaughan and all-rounder Andrew Flintoff hopeful of returning for the second Test at Headingley next week, England's top order were under pressure to perform.

That challenge inspired Collingwood to overcome a shaky start to the second day and hit a defiant 111 as England progressed to a dominant 372 for five at tea.

Resuming overnight on 21, with England on 200 for three, Collingwood was fortunate not to fall three times during the early stages as West Indies' attack utilised prodigious swing to cause problems.

Collingwood escaped for the first time on 31 when he drove fast bowler Jerome Taylor straight to Daren Ganga in the gully, but the regulation chance was missed at the second attempt.

The Durham all-rounder added only one more run before he was given his second reprieve, this time shouldering arms to a Taylor inswinger but umpire Asad Rauf gave him the benefit of the doubt after being hit on the pads.

While Collingwood was struggling at one end, Essex opener Alastair Cook was finding it equally difficult at the other, and he added only three runs to his overnight 102 before mis-timing an attempted cut off Taylor to find Dwayne Bravo at point.

There was still time for Collingwood to have another escape, mis-hitting a pull shot off Corey Collymore on 36 which was dropped by Taylor in the deep after totally misjudging the trajectory and getting no more than a hand on the ball before it fell to earth.

But he survived that shaky period to reach his half-century and, partnered by Ian Bell, another player potentially under threat for Headingley if the big two return, they batted West Indies almost into submission.