England was 143 for one in reply to the West Indies’s first innings total of 299 at lunch on the third day of the second Test at the National Cricket Stadium in Grenada on Thursday.
Skipper Alastair Cook was undefeated on 67 while fellow opener Jonathan Trott made 59.
Meanwhile on Wednesday, Cook and Trott, returning after a lengthy absence from the team, who failed to get scores in the drawn first Test in Antigua took much confidence from the final session on the second day.
The West Indies attack lacked penetration in the absence of injured Jerome Taylor and with batting conditions improving, as the damp and overcast weather made way for bright sunshine, Cook and Trott made good progress before stumps.
There was turn for leg-spinner Devendra Bishoo on a pitch that should offer more on the final two days but West Indies will be disappointed it did not put the England openers under more pressure with the new ball.
England bowled West Indies out for 299 after Marlon Samuels made his seventh Test century and a last-wicket partnership of 52 pushed the hosts to a competitive total.
Rain showers disrupted the first session but after an early lunch, Samuels, 94 not out overnight, completed his ton.
The Jamaican made 103 from 228 balls in an uncharacteristic but valuable patient knock before he was caught by Ian Bell at second slip off James Anderson.
The disappointment at losing Samuels just after reaching his century was intensified when skipper Denesh Ramdin went shortly afterwards, England wicketkeeper Jos Buttler snapping up an edge off Stuart Broad.
Jason Holder, who had looked in good form again after his century in the last Test, fell just after hitting Broad for a six when his attempted drive was edged to Buttler.
Broad finished with figures of four for 61.West Indies was 247 for nine but last pair Devendra Bishoo and Shannon Gabriel played positive strokes as the host again displayed its new-found resilience under coach Phil Simmons.
