2nd Test, Day 3: Alastair Cook, Jonathan Trott put England on top against Windies

St. George`s: England`s first century opening partnership for more than two years helped them to 143 for one in reply to the West Indies first innings total of 299 at lunch on the third day of the second Test on Thursday.

Skipper Alastair Cook and Jonathan Trott played carefully in extending their stand from the overnight total of 74 to 125 on the first sun-drenched morning of the match before leg-spinner Devendra Bishoo grabbed the wicket of Trott for 59.

Cook will resume in the afternoon on 67 together with Gary Ballance (seven).

In conditions ideal for batting at the National Cricket Stadium, the England top-order appeared more concerned with eliminating risks than dominating bowlers, especially the faster ones, who hardly posed any serious threat on a placid pitch.

Both openers progressed serenely towards personal half-centuries and it was only the introduction of Bishoo in the hour before lunch that saw the batsmen being challenged.

Trott, who trailed his captain throughout most of the partnership, accelerated on getting to fifty following his double-failure in the drawn first Test in Antigua.

However that aggression got the better of him when he drove at a flighted delivery from the specialist spinner and was well caught for 59 by Jermaine Blackwood at second slip.

Cook then survived a confident leg-before appeal off the same bowler.

Marlon Samuels, whose seventh Test hundred was the foundation of the West Indies first innings effort, bowled his part-time off-spinners economically in tandem with Bishoo.

That raised the prospect of an extended workload for the two slow bowlers as the hosts seek to thwart England`s attempt to build the sort of formidable platform that they hope will result in a decisive first innings lead.