Paul Collingwood scored his fifth Test century to turn the fourth and final Test on its head against West Indies on Monday.
England, replying to West Indies' 287, were 341 for seven at tea with Collingwood 115 not out on day four at Durham's Chester-le-Street ground.
Collingwood's innings helped swing the momentum of the match England's way after they slumped to 133 for five earlier in the day. They now lead by 54 runs.
Playing on his home ground, Collingwood put on a seventh wicket stand of 169 with wicketkeeper Matt Prior (62). When they came together England were still 122 runs behind West Indies.
Fast bowler Fidel Edwards (five for 88) finally ended the destructive partnership when he had Prior caught at deep square leg 15 minutes before tea - the only wicket in the session - to give him his fifth five-wicket haul in Tests.
After lunch West Indies' bowlers had problems with their control. Daren Powell angled one attempted in-swinger down the leg side for four byes after Corey Collymore had bowled four wides before lunch. Extras have so far tallied 43.
England's disciplined bowlers did not concede a single wide in 97.1 overs.
Collingwood survived a vocal lbw appeal when on 59 after one well-directed Powell in-swinger looked as though it would have clipped his leg stump, according to replays.
The gritty Collingwood brought up his 50 with an edge off seam bowler Collymore through the vacant third slip region.
The lucky escape frustrated West Indies as second slip Dwayne Bravo and extra cover fielder Runako Morton knelt down and thumped the ground in unison. It was not the first time Morton showed his feelings in this way in the series.
Prior registered his half-century by coming down the wicket to Collymore and chipping the ball over midwicket for six.
The runs continued to flow comfortably and 29 runs were scored off the first two overs with the new ball. The second of these, bowled by Edwards, allowed three Collingwood boundaries. The second one - a pull - gave him three figures.
Collingwood celebrated with an animated leap in the air and a roar of joy as West Indies fielders' heads dropped. England won the second and third Tests after the first match at Lord's ended indecisively.