Steve Harmison tightened his psychological hold on England's Test series in the Caribbean with another superb display of fast bowling at the Queen's Park Oval yesterday to abruptly end West Indies' hopes of bouncing back strongly in the second Test.

Just five days after claiming seven for 12 to dismiss West Indies for the lowest score in their Test history of 47, the Durham fast bowler collected another five-wicket haul as West Indies plunged towards another lowly total on a rain-hit opening day of the Trinidad Test.

Deciding to bat first, West Indies captain Brian Lara appeared to have made the right decision at his hometown Test with openers Chris Gayle and Devon Smith racing to a century stand in only 26 overs.

But Harmison claimed three wickets in eight balls before lunch to wreck West Indies' impressive fightback and, after several breaks for rain, claimed two more wickets in quick succession to firmly establish his stranglehold on their batsmen.

Gayle had earlier dominated the opening session with a sparkling 62 off only 81 balls as West Indies hammered a six and 21 fours during the morning session to leave England stunned at the ferocity of their response following their ten-wickets mauling in the opening Test at Sabina Park.

Harmison had enjoyed little success during an opening six-over spell costing 27 runs, but as soon as captain Michael Vaughan returned him to the attack as one of four bowling changes inside the first 25 overs, he was a different proposition altogether.

Finding the length which proved so prosperous in Jamaica, Harmison struck in his second over to end Gayle's dangerous innings when the West Indies left-hander pushed forward and edged a full-length delivery behind to wicketkeeper Chris Read.

Smith, who had scored an impressive century during the opening Test, followed in his next over when he shuffled across his stumps and Harmison won a leg before appeal to hasten the arrival of local hero Lara to the crease.

Having waited until last year to score his first Test century in Trinidad, Lara was keen to build on that success but instead collected a second successive duck for the first time in his illustrious Test career when a short delivery from Harmison caught him by surprise and he was snapped up in the gully by Ashley Giles via his glove and helmet.

England's spirits were now flying knowing they had removed their most dangerous obstacle but any hopes of building on that momentum were interrupted firstly by the lunch-break and then by a further delay for rain which should have enabled the West Indies to re-group.

Instead they showed a willingness to capitulate which almost rivalled Sunday's efforts and even players with the experience of Shivnarine Chanderpaul, who has over 100 Test appearances to his name, were unable to resist England's attack.

Chanderpaul lasted just 17 deliveries after the rain break before playing lamely outside off-stump and edging Simon Jones behind to Read and, after a further interruption, Harmison was again let loose on West Indies' fragile middle order.

Dwayne Smith, drafted into West Indies' line-up after Ryan Hinds contracted a stomach illness, showed his intent by pulling Harmison for six over long on in his second over after the re-start.

He did not, however, have the self-control to resist the shot a second time when Harmison dug the ball in again during his next over and this time got underneath the shot and gave a leading edge to Nasser Hussain at mid-wicket.

Ramnaresh Sarwan followed just five balls later when he played equally suspiciously outside off-stump and edged straight to Andrew Flintoff at second slip to earn Harmison another five-wicket haul.