Having won the toss and decided to field, Michael Vaughan's hopes that the ball would swing in the damp conditions were vindicated by Sidebottom's first ball, which Daren Ganga could only prod to Alastair Cook at short leg.

It was a sharp catch from the young England opener after the ball had flown off the middle of the Trinidadian's bat.

And with Hoggard sharing the new ball following his return from a groin injury, the Windies openers had to contend with some prodigious swing.

Gayle opted for attack as the best form of defence, striking a series of fours and one clipped six over square leg, but it proved his downfall as an attempted expansive cover drive missed a Hoggard inswinger and the Yorkshireman trapped him plum in front.

Ryan Sidebottom celebrates after snaring Daren Ganga first ball

That brought Runako Morton to the crease, but he could only watch as Devon Smith (4) left a straight one from Sidebottom and saw his off stump fly out of the ground.

And a reinvigorated Harmison accounted for Morton in just his second over, the number four chipping to Sidebottom at mid-off.

It could have been worse for the Windies, with Chanderpaul getting the benefit of a brilliant decision from umpire Aleem Dar, who gave him not out caught behind after the ball had clipped his thigh pad.

And the 32-year-old got a life in the same over when he was on nine, Hoggard enticing the outside edge only for Ian Bell to drop him on the dive at third slip.

But the Guyanese, so often England's tormentor for the Windies, proved to be at his obstinate best after that, striking seven boundaries in a typically defiant innings.

Bravo also provided good resistance, curbing his natural attacking instincts in building a 79-ball 43 not out and helping the Windies battle their way out of a precarious position.

The pair's unbeaten stand of 77 came from nearly 24 overs before they took the offer of the light, ensuring they will be in a position to carry the fight to England on Sunday.