Paul Collingwood scored 128, his fifth Test century, to put England in control against West Indies in the fourth and final Test on Monday.
England reached 400 in reply to West Indies 287 and then reduced the tourists to 83 for three at the close when bad light stopped play to boost their chances of winning the series 3-0. West Indies trail by 30 runs.
Chris Gayle (52 from 63 balls) and Shivnarine Chanderpaul (16) were unbeaten at the close and the West Indies will be required to bat for most of the final day on Tuesday to draw the game.
Devon Smith, opening instead of captain Daren Ganga, lasted three balls before he was lbw to Matthew Hoggard, who also dismissed Ganga, caught behind for six. Ganga has failed to reach double figures in his last six innings of the series.
Runako Morton then played on to spinner Monty Panesar. Gayle reached his first half-century of the series, while Chanderpaul, who was unbeaten on 136 in the first innings, has not been dismissed in 852 minutes.
The day belonged to Collingwood, batting on his home ground, as he rescued his team from a perilous situation. England were 133 for five in the morning session after the loss of Andrew Strauss for 77 to Fidel Edwards, who finished with five for 112.
When wicketkeeper Matt Prior (62) came to the crease they were 165 for six and still 122 runs behind West Indies. But the duo then consolidated before attacking an increasingly dispirited West Indian attack.
Collingwood paced his innings perfectly and, though he brought up his 50 with a lucky edge through vacant third slip for four much to the frustration of Morton and Dwayne Bravo who thumped the ground in anger, he was mostly solid.
The gritty Collingwood brought up his 50 with an edge off seam bowler Collymore through the vacant third slip region.
The lucky escape frustrated West Indies as second slip Dwayne Bravo and extra cover fielder Runako Morton knelt down and thumped the ground in unison. It was not the first time Morton showed his feelings in this way in the series.
Prior registered his half-century by coming down the wicket to Collymore and chipping the ball over midwicket for six.
The runs continued to flow comfortably and 29 runs were scored off the first two overs with the new ball. The second of these, bowled by Edwards, allowed three Collingwood boundaries. The second one - a pull - gave him three figures.
Collingwood celebrated with an animated leap in the air and a roar of joy as West Indies fielders' heads dropped.
England won the second and third Tests after the first match at Lord's was drawn.
