West Indies take control to leave England clinging on

Kraigg Brathwaite and Shane Dowrich both hit half-centuries to give the tourists a health first-innings after day three in Southampton

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The Ageas Bowl: England 202 & 15-0, West Indies 318 - West Indies lead by 99 runs

West Indies are firmly in the ascendancy in the first Test against England at The Ageas Bowl after building a commanding lead over the hosts.

Kraigg Brathwaite and Shane Dowrich both hit half-centuries as the tourists were bowled out for 318 on a docile pitch in Southampton.

Ben Stokes took 4-49 but could not prevent the Windies taking a 114-run lead into England's second innings.

Rory Burns and Dom Sibley batted out the final 10 overs to reach the close unscathed on 15-0 - but there remains plenty of work - not least another 99 runs to make West Indies bat again - for the hosts to do to turn the contest in their direction.

Stokes had earlier attempt to blast the Windies from their comfortable position by letting Jofra Archer and Mark Wood loose on the visitors' top order.

But though both men were testing the speed gun, they were out of sorts.

That was emphasised when Archer trapped Shai Hope lbw, only for DRS to highlight a front-foot no-ball. Dom Bess eventually did for the troubled No.3, but Brathwaite cashed in with a patient half-century.

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Ben Stokes kept England in the contest with four wickets

The opener was eventually dismissed when he played all around one from Stokes, but Shamarh Brooks steadied the ship with a dogged 39 before James Anderson sent him packing.

Jermaine Blackwood hit out needlessly but Roston Chase and Dowrich put the West Indies into the lead with a sixth-wicket partnership worth 81.

Jason Holder was unable to provide any fireworks but some useful runs from Alzarri Joseph (18), before Stokes bowled him for his 150th Test scalp, pushed the lead to 114.

With around 50 minutes to survive until the close, Burns and Sibley batted nervously with the ball doing plenty in the early evening air.

Crucially, however, the opening pair persevered to leave all three results, with just two days remaining, still on the table.

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