A defiant partnership between Denesh Ramdin and Jason Holder has left England needing four wickets in the final session to win the first Test against the West Indies.

Captain Ramdin and one-day international skipper Holder each reached tea unbeaten on 48 to help their side recover from Jermaine Blackwood's dismissal.

First-innings centurion Blackwood made 31 before deciding to charge Chris Jordan an over before the new ball, and his thin edge through to Jos Buttler left the Windies on 189-6, chasing a highly improbable 438 to win.

However, senior men Ramdin and Holder occupied the crease assuredly for the next 20 overs prior to the interval, taking the hosts to 268-6 on an fifth-day Antigua pitch which is offering little life to the bowlers.

They have a further 31 overs to survive and clinch a draw, but, with only Kemar Roach, Jerome Taylor and Sulieman Benn remaining, England will be optimistic that an early breakthrough after tea will open the door.

James Anderson earlier equalled Sir Ian Botham's Test record for most wickets by an Englishman when he had Marlon Samuels caught at gully for his 383rd scalp.