BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, (Reuters) - The third Test between West Indies and England was perfectly balanced after a remarkable second day that saw a strong fightback from the home side and a magnificent century by the tourists' Graham Thorpe.
Thorpe hit 119 not out as England recovered from 147 for seven to be all out for 226 giving them a first-innings lead of two while West Indies closed on 21 for one, 19 runs ahead.
England, who lead the four-match series 2-0, are looking for their first triumph in the Caribbean since 1968.
West Indies' Chris Gayle was bowled by Steve Harmison for 15 but captain Brian Lara (one not out) and Daren Ganga (five not out) survived to see West Indies through to the close.
While Thorpe, who came to the crease on 33 for three, batted flawlessly for his century, Lara must take some of the blame for his team's defensive play as he seemed intent on preventing runs rather than attacking the England tail.
The Test had looked very different after West Indies enjoyed two of their best sessions of the series.
Having lost their last seven wickets for 57 as they were all out for 224 on day one, West Indies needed something special from their bowlers and Fidel Edwards, with four for 70, provided it.
FIRST WICKET
After Michael Vaughan was dropped by Ramnaresh Sarwan off Tino Best when on 12, England lost their first wicket when Edwards got one to lift and found the edge of Mark Butcher's bat, caught by Chris Gayle at first slip for five.
New batsman Nasser Hussain was fortunate to survive when a thick edge went through the vacant slip cordon and as he became bogged down Vaughan became impatient and fell to Edwards, caught by Ridley Jacobs for 17.
Hussain played round a straight ball from Corey Collymore and was bowled, also for 17, while Andrew Flintoff, the success of day one with five wickets for 58, was caught at cover for 15.
The use of Gayle, a part-time off-spinner, frustrated England's batsmen initially but while his 13 overs cost only 32 runs, the tail rarely had to face two of the home side's pace bowlers in tandem.
That allowed Thorpe to dominate the strike and the left-hander played impeccably for his second century at the Kensington Oval.
With Simon Jones and Harmison providing staunch support at the other end, Thorpe reached his 13th Test hundred with a stunning cross-bat drive down the ground, the century coming up in 181 balls.
Harmison was the last man out, bowled by Pedro Collins for three, but the fast bowler had his revenge by dismissing Gayle for 15 shortly before bad light ended play.
WEST INDIES first innings 224 (R.Sarwan 63, S.Chanderpaul 50; A.Flintoff 5-58)
ENGLAND first innings (overnight 20-1)
M.Trescothick b Edwards 2
M.Vaughan c Jacobs b Edwards 17
M.Butcher c Gayle b Edwards 5
N.Hussain b Collymore 17
G.Thorpe not out 119
A.Flintoff c Collymore b Best 15
C.Read lbw b Edwards 13
A.Giles c sub. b Collins 11
M.Hoggard lbw b Collins 0
S.Jones c Sarwan b Best 4
S.Harmison b Collins 3
Extras: (lb-5, w-3, nb-12) 20
Total: (all out, 90 overs) 226
Fall of wickets: 1-8, 2-24, 3-33, 4-65, 5-90, 6-119, 7-147, 8-155, 9-187.