So we'll leave it there. Alastair Cook may not have ended that long wait for a hundred, but the even longer delay for an England victory overseas looks in a good shape to be cut short. See you tomorrow.

Geoffrey Boycott
Ex-England batsman on BBC Test Match Special

"The West Indies toiled, it was difficult for them. Gabriel gave everything and was spirited but poor Bishoo has bowled 41 overs already. That's too much for a young kid. He stuck at it well but Roach and Holder showed no penetration, they wouldn't worry my mum."

And that is the situation - England 74 ahead with four first-innings wickets remaining. A match-winning position? We'll go a long way to answering that question tomorrow.

Geoffrey Boycott
Ex-England batsman on BBC Test Match Special

"It's a declaration job tomorrow - Cook can tell them to crack on, get as many as they can, a lead of 150, but I don't think he needs too many. When West Indies have to go in and bat for four sessions, they will think they can get past England and that's when they'll play shots to get out. It's not hard to knock off 100 on the last day."

But Root remains, in the company of the exciting Jos Buttler. It will be their job tomorrow to survive the early going, then extend England's lead as far and as quickly as possible. The tourists will need as much time as possible to bowl the Windies out on a placid pitch.

Geoffrey Boycott
Ex-England batsman on BBC Test Match Special

Image source, AP

"The Samuels salute to Stokes was all right because it is banter and fun; it has happened throughout history. It is the personal abuse that has to stop. That is not punishable - it was funny. It is the nasty things that the ICC have to get rid off, not this sort of thing."

Moeen Ali looked for a single when the ball had hardly left the pitch and was run out, then Ben Stokes arrived to resume his duel with Marlon Samuels. It did not end well for the Durham all-rounder. A Bishoo long hop held on the boundary, Samuels saluting the batsman as he trudged off. One of the great send-offs and the moment of the day.

Geoffrey Boycott
Ex-England batsman on BBC Test Match Special

"I know teams don't like changing their batting line-up, but I would have sent Jos Buttler in ahead of Moeen. He would have had an hour, and he could have taken 10 or 15 balls to get going and the scoreboard would have rocketed along after that. I don't see how the left-hander Stokes gets in above Buttler - it's a stereotype that batsmen and all-rounders come in before the keeper but this lad is different, he's got special talent. He should bat higher."

Root was undeterred, going through to his sixth Test ton and first overseas. At the other end, though, all sorts of fun and games unfolded.

Root added the ooomph, sparking partner Gary Ballance into life too. Runs flowed either side of tea, both men strong on the cut, Root happy to get on the pull. Centuries were for the taking, but Ballance was undone by Marlon Samuels' slowest ball of the day.

Geoffrey Boycott
Ex-England batsman on BBC Test Match Special

Image source, Getty Images

"The best batting came from Root, he created momentum when he came in with good batting. He was not looking to smash fours, he was busy for ones and twos and put the fielders under pressure. He played wonderfully and he has found his niche at five. He really did not put a foot wrong today."

All eyes were on Cook in the afternoon, looking for that first ton in almost two years. It wasn't to be, chopping on for 76, with Ian Bell doing the same. England stuttering. Enter Joe Root.

Geoffrey Boycott
Ex-England batsman on BBC Test Match Special

"Both Trott and Cook were on for a hundred, but they batted nicely and it takes a lot of pressure off for them. They'll be very happy. Gary Ballance was safe, steady and he's a great leaver of the ball. He didn't rush - he never does, but he's a part opener at three. He knows his areas where he can score and he's a safe number three."

Cook's progress and that of new opening partner Jonathan Trott was painstaking in the morning session, stifled by some accurate West Indian bowling. In the end, Trott was undone by the leg-spin of Devendra Bishoo, edging to gully after making a half-century in his second match back in the side.

Geoffrey Boycott
Ex-England batsman on BBC Test Match Special

"From England's point of view it was an ideal day. In the sun, they batted well and they have scored at a quicker rate than West Indies. I think Cook and Trott played nicely last night and today. The way they both played, with a straight bat, on a low slow surface was very good."

Could it have been better for England? Perhaps, but they have still added 299 in the day. They may well have liked to have seen Alastair Cook notch three figures, but the wait for that elusive century goes on.

Praveen: I hope Stokes learns that you don't need to be abusive to get wickets. That send off sounds hilarious.

England centurion Joe Root, speaking to Sky Sports: "It's a nice feeling but we need to kick on tomorrow. There is plenty of batting left in that dressing room and hopefully we can get a big score. The more I make over 100 the better, it will help us to win things. I feel good, my movements are good and you have to cash in because blips happen in a career."

Image source, Getty Images

Root leads the players off, raising his bat to acknowledge the applause of some sunburned England fans. His sixth Test hundred added impetus to the England innings when it was needed in the afternoon session. If he and Buttler bat for half an hour in the morning, they will be given a licence to entertain.

England 373-6 (124 overs) - lead by 74

Batsmen: Root 118 (165 balls, 13 fours, two sixes), Buttler 4 (17)

Fall of wickets: 125-1 (Trott 59), 159-2 (Cook 76), 164-3 (Bell 1), 329-4 (Ballance 77), 335-5 (Moeen 0), 364-6 (Stokes 8)

Bowling figures: Roach 24-4-77-0, Gabriel 19-3-60-2, Holder 18-6-49-0, Bishoo 40-10-121-2, Samuels 21-4-38-1, Blackwood 1-0-14-0.

West Indies 299 all out - Samuels 103, Broad 4-61

Full scorecard