KINGSTON, Jamaica (AFP): England edged ahead by just 28 runs on first innings on a rain-affected third day of the first Test against the West Indies at Sabina Park here on Saturday. In between dodging the raindrops, and some fireballs from Tino Best, England were bowled out for 339, replying to West Indies first innings of 311, before bad light stopped play 9.4 overs early with the home team eight without loss in their second innings. Fortunes shifted regularly during a day in which one and a half hours were lost to the rain and Best, thrust into the role of spearhead after Fidel Edwards broke down with a lower back strain, captured three wickets for 57 runs from 19 overs to keep West Indies in the hunt. England continued from their overnight position of 154 for three, but rain badly disrupted the first hour of cricket. After the showers, Nasser Hussain and Graham Thorpe looked be in control, but the departure of Edwards and the introduction of Best completely changed the complexion of the match. Best responded to the awesome responsibility of leading the attack by bowling with pace and hostility during the morning period to snuff out Thorpe and Hussain as England reached 228 for five at lunch. With the big George Headley Stand roaring behind him, Best claimed his first Test wicket when he had Thorpe caught inside the deep fine leg boundary by Adam Sanford for 19 playing an ill-advised hook, and Hussain was caught at extra cover for 58 fending a short ball off the leading edge. The two had battled through the rain interruptions to add 42 for the fourth wicket before both were psyched out by the livewire Best. When play after lunch resumed an hour late because of the weather, Andrew Flintoff completed a 59-run, sixth wicket stand with Chris Read, but was outfoxed in the first over of Ramnaresh Sarwan's part-time leg-spin when he was caught at mid-wicket by Ryan Hinds for 46 looking to clear long-on. Sarwan and Hinds were brought into the attack by West Indies captain Brian Lara, who made his first appearance for the day after nursing his dislocated little finger on the right hand, to hasten the arrival of the second new ball. When it came, the home team had immediate success. Read, looking to pull the first delivery from Best, got himself into a tangle, and was caught at square leg by Hinds for 20 top-edging the shot. England's tail-enders were left with the unenviable task of taking their team through to the lead and Ashley Giles ensured they reached their target with a valuable 27 as the visitors lost their last three wickets for 61 runs. England are looking to end a 36-year wait for a Test series victory over West Indies in the Caribbean. Scoreboard at stumps on the third day of the first Test:: West Indies 1st Innings 311 (D. Smith 108; M. Hoggard 3-68) England 1st Innings (overnight 154 for three) M. Trescothick b Edwards 7 M. Vaughan c Lara b Edwards 15 M. Butcher c Jacobs b Edwards 58 N. Hussain c (sub) Bernard b Best 58 G. Thorpe c Sanford b Best 19 A. Flintoff c Hinds b Sarwan 46 C. Read c Hinds b Best 20 A. Giles b Sanford 27 M. Hoggard not out 9 S. Jones c Sanford b Hinds 7 S. Harmison run out (sub R Powell) 13 Extras (b7, lb28, w7, nb18) 60 Total (all out) 339 Fall of wickets: 1-28, 2-33, 3-152, 4-194, 5-209, 6-268, 7-278, 8-313, 9-325, 10-339 Bowling: Collymore 26-7-55-0 (9nb), Edwards 19.3-3-72-3 (nb7, w2); Best 19-1-57-3 (nb1, w4); Sanford 22-1-90-1 (1nb, 1w), Hinds 11.5-2-18-1, Gayle 1-0-6-0; Sarwan 4-1-6-1. Overs: 103.2 West Indies 2nd Innings C. Gayle not out 8 D. Smith not out 0 Total (without loss) 8 Bowling: Hoggard 2-0-8-0; Harmison 1.2-1-0-0. Overs: 3.2 Umpires: D. Harper, B. Bowden (TV Replays: E. Nicholls). Match Referee: M. Procter. Reprinted from Caribbean Net News caribbeannetnews.com