Having won the toss in ideal swing conditions, England successfully exploited the cloudy and humid situation and exposed the fragile technique of West Indies' top order to leave them reeling on 55 for four.

But their hopes of building on that start were once again undermined by a dogged knock Chanderpaul, West Indies' best and most stubborn batsman, to set himself for another lengthy innings of defiance.

He was joined by all-rounder Dwayne Bravo, who has looked the tourist's most accomplished all-round player in what has been a difficult series.

By the time bad light ended play shortly after tea on the second weather-hit day of the final npower Test, Chanderpaul had forged an unbroken 77-run stand with Bravo to help the tourists recover to reach 132 for four.

Bravo batted well to supress his natural attacking urges and end the day on 43 not out, while Chanderpaul looked as assured as ever in reaching an unbeaten 44.

England captain Michael Vaughan wisely chose to rely on former Yorkshire team-mates Ryan Sidebottom and Matthew Hoggard - both superb exponents of swing - to use the new ball rather than rely on the speed and hostility of local hero Steve Harmison.

It was a tactic which worked superbly with left-arm seamer Sidebottom continuing the struggles of West Indies captain Daren Ganga, who scored only five runs during the previous Test at Old Trafford, after he clipped the first ball of the innings straight to Alastair Cook at short leg.

With England's new ball pair getting prodigious swing, it needed calm and disciplined batting from West Indies but instead they got a fierce display of attacking strokeplay by Chris Gayle.

Ignoring the perils of the situation, Gayle drove Sidebottom for four and then clipped him for six over mid-wicket off successive balls and a back foot drive through the covers off Hoggard took him to 28 off only 24 balls.

The folly of his tactics was underlined two balls later when he attempted another big drive and was given lbw to an inswinger from Hoggard, who moved level with Alec Bedser with 236 victims and up to sixth on England's all-time list of leading Test wicket-takers.

Gayle's flawed policy was further exposed seven balls later when new batsman Devon Smith had his off-stump clipped by Sidebottom.

Perhaps the turning point of the innings, though, was five overs later when Chanderpaul had scored only nine and was unable to control a push against Hoggard which flew high to Ian Bell at third slip and the chance was put down.

Three overs later, England claimed some consolation with Runako Morton, who had tried to resist his natural instincts to attack, chipping Steve Harmison straight to Sidebottom at mid-off.

England could have made further inroads by also removing Bravo before he had scored after he called for a quick single only for substitute fielder Garry Park to miss the stumps at the non-striker's end.

Those misses proved crucial with Bravo suppressing his instinct to play his shots under Chanderpaul's guidance and the pair forged a key stand which only served to frustrate England all the more.

Bravo took 21 balls just to get off the mark while Chanderpaul continued to remain solid in defence while seizing on anything loose and a leg-glance for four off Harmison enabled him to become only the seventh West Indian to reach 7,000 Test runs.

Chanderpaul had already batted for over 13 hours in the series already before he walked out to bat at the Riverside and ensured he took his time at the crease to over 15 hours by the time bad light ended play shortly after tea.

Even in the 9.4 overs available after the interval, England had a further chance to make the breakthrough with Bravo driving back down the pitch on 25 and Harmison failing to take a difficult return catch.

By the time the clouds finally closed in, both Bravo and Chanderpaul looked solid in their defence, as they attempt to carry their good work into day three, when the forecast is much brighter.