ENGLAND moved closer to claiming a first-innings lead as the fourth Test with the West Indies limped towards a draw at Riverside.

The hosts added 81 runs for the loss of two wickets in the opening session at Chester-le-Street to close on 202-6 at lunch, 85 runs adrift of the tourists' total of 287.

Andrew Strauss added just five to his overnight total of 72 before perishing in the fourth over of the day, edging Fidel Edwards to wicketkeeper Denesh Ramdin.

Ian Bell quickly followed for 11, pushing at Daren Powell and edging to Runako Morton at a wide third slip, but Paul Collingwood and Matt Prior combined to steady the ship.

Durham all-rounder Collingwood is unbeaten on 35, with Prior currently 16 not out, and with neither side able to establish a position of dominance, a draw looks all but certain on the penultimate day.