Another reason for sticking with spin might be that this is the 74th over, and the second new ball is available after 80. It won't matter to England - they plunder three singles from Samuels, whose seven overs have cost 38.

Only Alastair Cook (25) and Kevin Pietersen (23) have scored more than Ian Bell's 22 Test hundreds, external for England. Wally Hammond (below), Colin Cowdrey and Geoffrey Boycott also have 22.

Image source, Getty Images

Given that (as far as I remember) teams get their two reviews replenished after 80 overs, it's no surprise that West Indies have used one for the last ball of the 73rd... He was on the back foot but I think this one might be "umpire's call"... and it is, with the ball possibly clipping the top of the leg bail. Not out.

The twin-spin attack continues as Benn skips in, with a slip and a leg slip in place. Perhaps the over-rate is encouraging the Windies to stick with spin? Stokes is hit on the pad, umpire Bowden shakes his head but West Indies signal for a review...

A single takes Bell to 103 from 198 balls - the ton came up from 194 deliveries.

Ed Smith
BBC Test Match Special

"A magnificent knock by Ian Bell. Chanceless, classy and composed. That will have meant a lot to him - there were a few fist pumps there."

Listen to TMS commentary via the audio icon (available in UK only).

And it's a century for Bell, who dabs Samuels between the keeper and slip to reach three figures for the 22nd time in Test cricket - and the first time in the first Test of an away series. He raises both arms in celebration, removes his helmet and salutes the England balcony.

Image source, Getty Images

Sir Viv Richards
Ex-West Indies captain on BBC Test Match Special

"I've always felt Bell to be a class act. There aren't many guys who are technically organised the way he is. He has a good array of shots when he's on attack, and he gets his hands through the ball well."

Daily Mail cricket correspondent Paul Newman:, external Good luck with those four-day Tests with 105 overs a day Mr Chairman… still got 19 to go here today to reach 90…

Benn, West Indies' busiest bowler having sent down 20 of the first 70 overs, begins his 21st, but the watchful Bell - with the field spread - is happy to progress in singles, squeezing one though the covers. With 19 more overs due today, it's time for drinks. Bell has 98 from 192 balls.

Gary Cooper: My sincere apologies to @joeroot05. Second ball of the day I watch and he's bowled. What was I thinking?

Paul Etherington: Can't believe Stokes batting above Buttler.

We have spin from both ends for the first time today as off-spinner Marlon Samuels replaces Taylor. Stokes takes a single, is this Bell's time now? Not just yet - he taps a single to long-on to reach 97. Stokes, scoring at a quicker rate than any of his team-mates today, adds a couple more.

Sir Viv Richards
Ex-West Indies captain on BBC Test Match Special

"There's no problem at all with being nervous in the 90s. There are times when you are playing well and you change your pattern, which makes life more difficult. The best advice is just to continue in the same manner."

Listen to TMS commentary via the audio icon (available in UK only).

Plenty of Caribbean music between overs - and after the many suggestions of Michael Vaughan on TMS earlier, Sulieman Benn is going to bowl over the wicket to the left-handed Stokes. Another flashing cut shot brings him two, while a single to deep mid-wicket means Bell, on 96 - rather starved of the strike lately - only has one ball to face. He defends.

Gav, Rugby: Bell is from Rugby, not Coventry, he would be mortified!

He was born in Walsgrave Hospital on the outskirts of Coventry (as stated on his own official website, external when he received an honorary degree from Coventry University) which is significantly closer to Coventry than Rugby I'm afraid. Naturally, he supports... Aston Villa.

Another four wide of point from Stokes, England will hope this is Ben Stokes (Version 2013-14) rather than Ben Stokes (Version Summer 2014) at the crease. A single takes him to a rapid 15 from 17 balls.

And a cricket fact I'd not heard before... James Anderson's father is an optician.

Andrew Samson
BBC Test Match Special statistician

"Ian Bell has just gone past Wally Hammond. He's now the ninth highest run scorer, external for England in Tests."

Spinner Sulieman Benn has changed ends for the third time today, now he's back at the Sir Andy Roberts End but it's business as usual from Ian Bell - who helps himself to a four through the covers and an easy two to deep mid-wicket to move to 96.

Oliver J Spencer: Is that first time in a large number of Test innings Stokes hasn't gone for a duck?

He had made three successive ducks before today.

England 219-4 (66 overs)

Batsmen: Bell 90*, Stokes 6*

Fall of wickets: 1-1 (Trott 0), 22-2 (Cook 11), 34-3 (Ballance 10), 211-4 (Root 83)

Bowling figures: Taylor 12-2-47-2, Roach 17-4-43-1, Holder 15-6-36-1, Benn 18-3-57-0, Samuels 4-0-26-0

West Indies won toss

Full scorecard