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England in front despite late wickets

Joe Root's first Test century outside England earns his side a handy lead in second Test

Three late wickets spoiled an otherwise perfect day for England's batsmen on day three of the second Test against West Indies in Grenada.

Joe Root (118 not out) led the way while Gary Ballance (77), Alastair Cook (76) and Jonathan Trott (59) also posted half-centuries as England finished day three on 6-373, a lead of 74.

Earlier, fast bowler Shannon Gabriel ended Cook's quest for a first Test century in more than two years and then quickly removed Ian Bell, a century-maker in the drawn first Test, to reduce the visitors to 3-164 early in the afternoon.

However Ballance and Root progressed through the rest of the session without difficulty and pushed on towards the final hour of the day.

But the loss of Ballance, bowled by Marlon Samuels, was closely followed by that of Moeen Ali (0) and Ben Stokes (8) as England looked to push the game forward late in the day after play was lost on the opening two days due to rain.

The wicket of Stokes, caught on the boundary off the bowling of Devendra Bishoo, was followed by a unusual send-off from Samuels, who removed his hat and saluted the Englishman as he walked off the ground.

Quick Single: Stokes given unique send-off

The right-handed Root was the more aggressive and impressive in dominating the fourth-wicket partnership with Ballance and shortly after the left-hander was dismissed, Root brought up his sixth Test century with a boundary behind point.

It was his sixth Test score of 50 or more in a row and his past 10 Test innings read 154*, 13, 66, 3, 56, 77, 149*, 83, 59 and 118*. 

"I'm feeling good, the movement's good, so obviously you've got to cash in at times like this and score as many as you can while things are going so well," said Root.

"We've got plenty of batting left in that dressing room and we'll want to get a big lead and only bat once."

Root's arrival in the middle had come with the West Indies buoyant after the demise of Cook and Bell within the space of five runs.

Both played on to the burly fast bowler Gabriel, the England captain's dismissal for 76 causing particular anguish for the left-hander given the considerable attention to the fact his last Test hundred was scored in March 2013 against New Zealand in Dunedin.

Ballance, who also got to three figures in the second innings of the drawn Antigua Test, arrived at the crease late in the morning session when Jonathan Trott fell for 59 to Devendra Bishoo.

Jermaine Blackwood held on to a good catch at second slip to break an opening stand of 125 as the South African-born player drove at the leg-spinner.

It was the first century opening stand for England in nearly two years.