Plunkett strikes early

Liam Plunkett removed dangerman Chris Gayle to enhance England's victory bid before the rain blew in at Headingley.

Although Durham paceman Plunkett sent a handful of deliveries wide down the leg-side, he surprised left-hander Gayle with one which held its line to take the outside edge.

Just four overs were possible, however, before the wet weather returned, with West Indies 31 for three in their second innings - still 393 runs adrift.

Rain wiped out the entire third day's play but England are still well down the road to going 1-0 up in the npower series.

The hosts effectively need half-a-dozen further successes to win their first match of the summer, with Ramnaresh Sarwan, the tourists' captain, unable to bat except in extreme circumstances due to a damaged collarbone.

England's Ian Bell, meanwhile, remains unable to field due to back spasms.

Play got under way on time in Leeds with both sets of players observing a minute's silence in tribute to Percy Sonn, the International Cricket Council president who died on Sunday.