Strauss ton raises England hopes

Strauss oversaw an opening day grind to 258 for two on a slow pitch against some negative tactics from West Indies, who fielded just three frontline bowlers and drafted in an extra batsman in a bid to avoid defeat.

He finished unbeaten on 139, his third century in as many Tests, a sequence which emulated Ian Bell's feat against Pakistan during the summer of 2006.

This latest effort arrived after four hours 20 minutes at the crease when he steered a delivery from opposite number Chris Gayle into the off-side and scampered through for a single.

That was during an ongoing 102-run stand with Paul Collingwood as the tourists toddled along at a sedate pace on a sluggish surface.

Both men provided scoring bursts to boost an otherwise sagging run rate, particularly Collingwood in the first half of his unbeaten half-century, which came from 108 balls shortly before the close.

They lost Kevin Pietersen on the stroke of tea in a drama-filled middle session which also saw Owais Shah retire hurt with severe cramp in his hands.

Despite only batting for a little over two and a half hours, Shah struggled to grip the bat and in an echo of his Test debut in Mumbai three years ago could not continue. and departed unbeaten on 29.

Pietersen, playing in his 50th Test, was struck on the pad third ball by medium pacer Brendan Nash and adjudged leg before wicket by Zimbabwean umpire Russell Tiffin but the decision was overturned after a referral. But Pietersen's stay did not last long and he perished for just 10, bowled through the gate by left-arm spinner Ryan Hinds

Earlier, Strauss' opening partner Alastair Cook was undone by a beauty from Daren Powell which pitched on off-stump, forcing the left-hander to play, and did enough to take the edge on its way through to wicketkeeper Denesh Ramdin.