PORT-OF-SPAIN, March 22: England took a stranglehold on day four of the second Test as they reduced West Indies to 52 for two at lunch in their second innings, still 59 runs behind.

Having resumed on 300 for six, England lost their last four wickets for four runs as they were bowled out for 319, a lead of 111, but Simon Jones dismissed Chris Gayle (16) and Devon Smith (17) to edge them closer to a 2-0 lead in the four-match series.

Ramnaresh Sarwan was nine not out while Ridley Jacobs, promoted above captain Brian Lara in a tactical decision with just 10 minutes to play before lunch, was not out four.

Outplayed for the first three days, West Indies hit back strongly in the first hour to at least give themselves a chance of saving the match. Graham Thorpe and Ashley Giles took the lead past the 100 mark but Giles was the first man to go when he was caught by Smith at second slip off Pedro Collins.

Collins then denied Thorpe a 13th Test century when he tempted him to cut, a thin edge giving Gayle a catch at first slip. The occasional spin of Gayle then accounted for Jones and Steve Harmison to restrict England's lead to 111.

Matthew Hoggard and Harmison gave little away with the new ball but after taking more than five overs to score their first runs off the bat, West Indies began to look dangerous.

Gayle hit four boundaries and was looking set for another before Jones struck as an opener was bowled by a ball which kept low. Smith had looked secure in the opening stages of his innings but after reaching 17, he lost his head, attempting to drive Jones over the top and succeeding only in giving Hoggard a simple catch.

On Sunday, Thorpe put England into a healthy first innings lead. Mark Butcher (61) and Nasser Hussain (58) added 120 for the third wicket but England struggled early on before Thorpe took over in the final session to see his side to 300 for six at the close.

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