NOTTINGHAM – Captain Andrew Strauss hit his second century in as many matches to leave England in the driving seat and in clear sight of West Indies’ first innings score of 370 at close on the second day of the second Test at Trent Bridge Saturday.

England had reached 259-2 with Strauss on 102 and the aggressive Kevin Pietersen on 72.

It was the 21st century of Strauss’s career and puts him only one short of England’s joint record holders Wally Hammond, Colin Cowdrey and Geoff Boycott.

It also underlined the captain’s full return to form after a modest 18-month spell broken only by his century in the first test at Lord’s last week.

Strauss and Pietersen came together on a flat pitch with the score on 123 and proceeded to hand out hefty punishment to the tourists’ attack in a superb display of stroke-making.

Strauss ended the day with 18 fours to his name, Pietersen with 10 fours and a six.

Earlier, England talisman Tim Bresnan blew away West Indies’ main resistance with the key wickets of Marlon Samuels (117) and Darren Sammy (106). — Reuters