St. John's, Antigua, Feb. 18: Alastair Cook compiled an unbeaten 51 on Wednesday as England slowly stretched their lead to 416 on the fourth day of the third Test against the West Indies at the Antigua Recreation Ground.

Cook's second half century of the match led the visitor's second innings from an overnight 31/1 to 135/3 at lunch. The left-handed opener struck six fours off 98 balls.

Daren Powell (2/33) claimed the two wickets to fall in a morning session that produced 104 runs off 29 overs. Cook and nightwatchman James Anderson stretched their second wicket partnership to 46 in a slow first hour.

Anderson, dropped on Tuesday when on 4, survived another chance on 11 when Chris Gayle floored a catch at first slip. Again, the unlucky bowler was Fidel Edwards.

Anderson eventually fell for 20 when he drove at Powell and deflected a thin edge to wicketkeeper Denesh Ramdin. Owais Shah plundered Powell for a six over midwicket as he scored 14 off 23 balls. But the fast bowler struck back, knocking over Shah's middle stump as he attempted another pull shot. Cook and Kevin Pietersen shared an unbroken stand of 38 off 62 balls before the break.

Pietersen was caught and bowled off a Sulieman Benn no-ball and survived to hit 17 not out off 27 balls with one four.

Earlier, England were in full control of the third Test after career-best bowling from Graeme Swann carried them to a 281-run first innings lead over West Indies on Tuesday.

Scores: England 1st Innings 566/9 decl & 135/3 (A. Cook batting 51, Edwards 1/36, Powell 2/33) vs West Indies 285 (R. Sarwan 94; G. Swann 5-57).

— Agencies