Stokes smashes hundred as England dominate West Indies

Matthew Fisher claimed a wicket with his second ball in Test cricket but the West Indies rallied to be 71 for one, after England extended their first innings to a mammoth 507 for nine declared on the second day of the second Test in Barbados on Thursday.

Ben Stokes cast aside his recent poor form in blazing his way to 120 and stealing the spotlight on day two from his captain Joe Root, whose efficient 153 was the cornerstone of their formidable total on an ideal batting surface.

It was all England for the first two sessions of play after resuming in the strong overnight position of 244 for three.

It seemed the momentum would take them through the top order of the West Indies batting after tea when Fisher, operating with the new ball, had John Campbell caught behind.

For the 24-year-old Yorkshireman it was a dream start as he only knew of his selection for the match minutes before the first ball on Wednesday when it was determined that Craig Overton, who had fallen ill overnight, was not fit to play.

However, West Indies captain Kraigg Brathwaite (28 not out) and fellow Barbadian Shamarh Brooks (31 not out) negotiated more than 25 overs to set the stage on day three when they will be seeking to return the favour to the tourists who put concerted pressure on the home bowlers earlier in the day.

Leading that effort was Stokes with a period of rampaging aggression in the morning session which ended with the all-rounder unbeaten on 89 off 92 balls. He then advanced to 120 off 128 balls with 11 fours and six sixes.

"Once I got in I just tried to seize the opportunity of us having so many runs on the board," said Stokes.

"You don't often get the opportunity of such a good platform and I was really keen to take advantage of it to give