ST JOHN'S, April 14: Captain Michael Vaughan hit his first century of the series to put England on course to save the fourth and final Test against West Indies on Wednesday.
Beginning the final day on 145 for no wicket, England lost Marcus Trescothick for 88 but Vaughan was unbeaten on 119 as the touring side reached 241 for one at lunch, 225 runs behind.
Vaughan's 11th Test century was the highlight of a tense morning session as West Indies, who have already lost the series after defeats in the first three Tests, looked to make inroads.
West Indies captain Brian Lara, whose record-breaking 400 not out was the inspiration behind his team's mammoth first innings total of 751 for five, employed a surprisingly defensive field, however, and England took advantage.
Trescothick, who began the day on 74, hit two lovely cover drives to move into the 80s but when he had reached 88 he jabbed a mis-timed drive straight to Ramnaresh Sarwan at wide mid-off to give Fidel Edwards the one wicket of the session.
Vaughan progressed from 61 overnight, surviving a big appeal for lbw from Pedro Collins who troubled him all morning, and a couple of streaky shots through the gully area.
With his century in sight, though, the England captain visibly tightened up and a risky single to Sarwan could have cost him dear had the West Indian not misfielded.
But Vaughan then smashed a superb drive through the covers to reach three figures, greeting it with a punch of the air before the ball had reached the boundary. Mark Butcher played well to be 13 not out at lunch.
England had earlier gavin themselves a chance to salvage a draw after Andrew Flintoff led the way with an unbeaten century on Tuesday. The all-rounder hit his third Test hundred, ending not out on 102, as England stumbled to 285 all out in the first innings, still 466 behind West Indies' mammoth total.
With Simon Jones providing staunch support, Lancashire all-rounder Flintoff took advantage of his good luck, hitting Edwards for a six over long leg as he moved into his 90s. A flick through square leg brought up his hundred, coming off 209 balls, with 13 fours and one six.
Jones then left the field for treatment for a bruised forearm but after Steve Harmison was bowled by Best for five he returned only to fall lbw to Ryan Hinds for 11. Paceman Pedro Collins took four for 76 while Tino Best finished with three for 37.
Batting again, Trescothick survived a big appeal for a catch down the leg side. Television replays suggested the ball brushed his glove. The left-handed Trescothick made the most of his luck to reach 74 by the end of the day's play, his knock including eight fours.
Scoreboard
WEST INDIES (1st Innings) 751-5 declared (B.C. Lara 400 not out, R.D. Jacobs 107 not out, R.R. Sarwan 90, C.H. Gayle 69).
ENGLAND (1st Innings):
M.E. Trescothick c Jacobs b Best 16
M.P. Vaughan c Jacobs b Collins 7
M.A. Butcher b Collins 52
N. Hussain b Best 3
G.P. Thorpe c Collins b Edwards 10
A. Flintoff not out 102
G.O. Jones b Edwards 38
G.J. Batty c Gayle b Collins 8
M.J. Hoggard c Jacobs b Collins 1
S.P. Jones lbw b Hinds 11
S.J. Harmison b Best 5
EXTRAS (B-1, LB-5, W-4, NB-22) 32
TOTAL (all out, 99 overs) 285
FALL OF WKTS: 1-8, 2-45, 3-54, 4-98, 5-98, 6-182, 7-205, 8-229, 9-283.
BOWLING: Collins 26-4-76-4 (14nb, 3w); Edwards 18-3-70-2 (5nb, 1w); Collymore 19-5-45-0 (1nb); Best 10.3-3-37-3 (1nb); Hinds 17.3-7-29-1 (1nb); Sarwan 7-0-18-0; Gayle 1-0-4-0.
ENGLAND (2nd Innings, overnight 145-0):
M.E. Trescothick c Sarwan b Edwards 88
M.P. Vaughan not out 119
M.A. Butcher not out 13
EXTRAS (LB-3, W-4, NB-14) 21
TOTAL (for one wkt, 76 overs) 241
FALL OF WKT: 1-182.
BOWLING (to-date): Best 11-1-37-0 (2w); Edwards 14-1-53-1 (7nb, 1w); Collymore 12-3-40-0; Powell 3-0-17-0; Hinds 16-2-43-0 (2nb); Gayle 9-2-22-0 (2nb); Sarwan 4-2-3-0; Collins 7-2-23-0 (3nb, 1w).
NOTE: S.P. Jones (11) retired hurt at 277-8 and resumed at 283-9 in England's first innings. -Reuters