Michael Vaughan became only the second England batsman to score a century in each innings at Lord's on Sunday before his bowlers reduced West Indies to 114 for three chasing a huge target of 478 to win the first Test.
England declared on 325 for five with Vaughan scoring 101 not out on the fourth day to go with his first-innings 103, matching Graham Gooch's feat in 1990.
In reply West Indies opener Chris Gayle frustrated England with a robust 81 before edging a full Steve Harmison delivery on to his stumps, the tall paceman's first wicket of the match.
Ashley Giles and Matthew Hoggard earlier dismissed Devon Smith (6) and Ramnaresh Sarwan (4) leg before wicket respectively to leave the home side in sight of victory on Monday's final day.
Shivnarine Chanderpaul (4 not out) was fortunate not to go for a duck after scoring 128 not out in the first innings when he appeared to glove Giles to Robert Key at silly mid on.
West Indies only hopes of drawing the game probably rest on the slight chance of rain on Monday and the battling skills of captain Brian Lara, who was unbeaten on 11 when dark clouds forced the players off early.
Unusually, Lara took 18 balls to get off the mark.
SWASHBUCKLING FLINTOFF
Vaughan's effort is the ninth time an England player has scored a ton in each innings of a Test but it was not without some good fortune.
Sarwan dropped an easy catch on the point boundary when Vaughan was on 86 and his poor calling resulted in the run-out of first-innings double centurion Robert Key for 15.
The captain was nearly run out himself shortly afterwards before steering his team to 165 for three at lunch.
Andrew Flintoff later boosted England's total with a swashbuckling 58 from 42 balls, including two sixes off spinner Omari Banks. He was caught behind off Pedro Collins just before the declaration at tea.
Collins had earlier taken two wickets in the morning session after the home side resumed on 71 without loss.
The seamer bowled opener Marcus Trescothick for 45 with a perfect yorker in the day's fourth over before Andrew Strauss pulled him to Sarwan at forward square leg for 35.
The pitch is still mostly placid with only a handful of balls misbehaving but the tourists still have a difficult job to stop England recording their seventh Test win in eight matches.
West Indies, who made 416 in their first innings, were missing fast bowler Tino Best on Sunday with a back strain.
Scoreboard:
England first innings: 568 (R.Key 221, A.Strauss 137, M.Vaughan 103; P.Collins 4-113)
West Indies first innings: 416 (S.Chanderpaul 128 not out, C.Gayle 66; A.Giles 4-129)
England second innings: (overnight 71-0)
M.Trescothick b Collins 45
A.Strauss c Sarwan b Collins 35
R.Key run out (Chanderpaul) 15
M.Vaughan not out 101
G.Thorpe c and b Gayle 38
A.Flintoff c Jacobs b Collins 58
Extras (b-3 lb-14 nb-16) 33
Total (for five wickets, declared, 76.4 overs) 325
Fall of wickets: 1-86, 2-104, 3-117, 4-233, 5-325.
Did not bat: G.Jones, A.Giles, S.Jones, M.Hoggard, S.Harmison
Bowling: Collins 14.4-1-62-3 (nb-6), Best 3-1-14-0, Edwards 13-0-47-0 (nb-8), Bravo 7-0-28-0, Gayle 9-0-45-1 (nb-2), Banks 26-1-92-0, Sarwan 4-0-20-0
West Indies second innings:
C.Gayle b Harmison 81
D.Smith lbw b Giles 6
R.Sarwan lbw b Hoggard 4
B.Lara not out 11
S.Chanderpaul not out 4
Extras (b-5 lb-2 nb-1) 8
Total (for three wickets, 28 overs) 114
Fall of wickets: 1-24, 2-35, 3-102.
Still to bat: D.Bravo, R.Jacobs, T.Best, O.Banks, P.Collins, F.Edwards.
Bowling: Hoggard 7-1-35-1, Harmison 9-0-37-1 (nb-1), Giles 12-1-35-1
