Kraigg Brathwaite and Marlon Samuels steadied West Indies to 84 for two at tea after England gained two early wickets following lunch on the second day of the first test. The hosts had mopped up the England tail well, claiming the last five wickets for 42 runs as the tourists' first innings ended on 399.
England's James Anderson, in his 100th test, claimed the early wicket of Devon Smith for 11, the left-hander edging a fine delivery to Jos Buttler.
Buttler then pocketed another catch to remove Darren Bravo (10), who edged as he tried to let go a delivery from Chris Jordan, to leave West Indies at 42 for two.
But Brathwaite and Samuels put down the foundations of a promising partnership, adding 42 more runs before tea.
Earlier West Indies seamer Kemar Roach finished with four for 94 after picking up two wickets in the morning session, with Buttler and Stuart Broad failing to add any runs to England's total.
Jerome Taylor started off with the early wicket of Ben Stokes (79) who found Jason Holder at gully.
Holder himself removed nightwatchman James Tredwell, who edged an attempted drive to Darren Bravo at first slip.
Roach removed Buttler for a duck after his edge off a full length delivery was snaffled up by West Indies wicketkeeper Denesh Ramdin.
Broad found Jermaine Blackwood at point from another full delivery to leave England at 361 for nine.
But the last wicket pairing of Chris Jordan (21 not out) and James Anderson (20) added 38, the third biggest partnership in the England innings, before Anderson mistimed a shot off Marlon Samuels' off-spin to Holder at short cover.
