Joe Root has scored his sixth Test century, steering England to 6-373 at stumps on day three against the West Indies in Grenada with the tourists leading by 74 runs.

Root finished the day unbeaten on 118 as England replied to the West Indies’ 299 all out in the second Test.

Coming in the wake of half-centuries in the drawn first Test in Antigua, the 24-year-old Yorkshireman Root extended his excellent run of form and ensured the tourists made good use of the first sun-drenched day of the match.

They will go into the penultimate day with Root and Jos Buttler (4) seeking to build on that advantage in the quest for the victory on the final day that escaped them last week at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium.