Bridgetown (Barbados), Feb. 27: Paul Collingwood (52 batting) and Ravi Bopara (46 batting) helped England progress to 405/4 at lunch on the second day of the fourth Test against West Indies on Friday.

The tourists, resuming on 301/3, lost Kevin Pietersen in the fifth over of the morning when he was trapped leg before by Fidel Edwards, the former England skipper’s appeal to a referral merely confirming a straightforward decision. Edwards, producing some impressive pace, peppered Bopara with some lively short deliveries and the England number six, deputising for the injured Andrew Flintoff, was fortunate to be dropped by Jerome Taylor at deep backward square leg after one hook shot.

Bopara, who was struck under the eye by one Edwards bouncer, survived the hostile spell to go on to make his best Test score.

Earlier, Andrew Strauss hit his second hundred of the series to lead another formidable England batting performance in the fourth Test against West Indies on Thursday. Strauss struck 142 — his 16th Test hundred — and shared a record opening stand with his deputy Alastair Cook that allowed England to reach 301/3 in their first innings when stumps were drawn on the opening day. The England captain reached his hundred, when he struck his 150th ball from Sulieman Benn over mid-wicket for a six onto the roof of the Greenidge and Haynes Stand. He gained admirable support from Cook in a stand of 229. — Agencies