Cook 243 flattens Windies

Alastair Cook's magnificent 243 off 407 balls put England in the driver's seat before James Anderson dealt the Windies an early blow with the ball on the second day of the first Tests at Edgbaston on Friday.

The West Indies were 44 for 1 in reply to England's massive 514 for 8 declared – trailing by 470 runs – when rain brought an early end to proceedings in the third session. Kieran Powell and Kyle Hope were unbeaten on 18 and 25 respectively.

Cook's double-century was the star of England's innings and his wicket prompted Joe Root to declare the innings. That meant the Windies had a tricky nine-over passage of play to negotiate in twilight before tea, and within that, Kraigg Brathwaite was caught behind for a duck off Anderson. It could have had the wicket of Powell too had Ben Stokes held on to a catch at gully off Stuart Broad.

There was a solemn start to Friday's proceedings with players, officials and spectators observing a minute's silence as a mark of respect for the victims of Thursday's terror attacks in Spain.

England resumed on its overnight 348 for 3 in what is the 50th Test to be played at Edgbaston. Cook was 153 not out – the tenth instance he has surpassed 150 in Tests – after Root (136) and he had put Windies to the sword with a 248-run third-wicket partnership.

On the field, Cook was barely troubled, and Dawid Malan, the other overnight batsman, provided good support during a century stand that took the total past 400. His pull off Miguel Cummins, one of four seamers in the attack, took Malan to a 112-ball half-century.

Cook then brought up his 200, his fourth double, afte a misfield by Kyle Hope on the third man rope allowed the ball to trickle through for a boundary.

Windies did, however, prise out Malan, caught at slip for 65 by Jermaine Blackwood off Roston Chase to end a partnership of 162.

Cook was 213 not out at lunch, with an opportunity to better his highest Test score of 294, made against India at Edgbaston six years ago. But Windies clawed its way back with the wickets of Stokes, Jonny Bairstow and Moeen Ali to ensure that didn't happen.

Cook eventually succumbed to Chase, who took 4 for 113, when he missed an attempted leg-side flick. The West Indies reviewed the not-out decision to confirm the dismissal. With replays showing that the ball would have hit leg stump, Cook's epic that lasted more than nine hours came to an end.