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Alec Stewart celebrated his 100th Test with an unbeaten 105 as England took control against the West Indies at Old Trafford.

Stewart combined with debutant Marcus Trescothick, who hit 65 not out, to put on 179 runs for the fourth wicket stand after Courtney Walsh had left the innings in disarray.

Walsh removed opener Michael Atherton, skipper Nasser Hussain and Graham Thorpe without conceding a run in his first seven overs to leave England on 17 for three.

Thanks to Stewart and Trescothick, England were 196 for three at stumps on day two of the third Test after West Indies had been dismissed for just 157 in their first innings.

Elite company

Stewart's 14th test century put the Surrey right-hander in the elite company of fellow Englishman Colin Cowdrey, Pakistan's Javed Miandad and West Indies' Gordon Greenidge to have scored a century in the 100th test.

"To have my name alongside those great names was a good effort," said Stewart.

Walsh's 3-26 in 16 overs took his series tally to 21 wickets and moved close to becoming the first bowler to take 500 wickets with a career tally of 470 wickets in 120 matches.

He bemused the England top order with his deceptive pace and trapped Thorpe leg before wicket with a cleverly disguised slower ball.

That dismissal came a ball after Hussain was caught in the gully by Jimmy Adams off the shoulder of the bat.

Atherton lasted just 16 balls before edging Walsh to third slip Sherwin Campbell.

Difficult phases

Stewart nursed the 24-year old Trescothick through some difficult phases of his first test innings after the left hander had been dropped on three and had miscued a pull off Franklyn Rose between mid-off and mid-on when on 46.

Trescothick reached his maiden 50 by sweeping Adams for six over square leg off the 122nd ball he faced.

Earlier, the West Indies had lost their last six wickets for 39 runs off 86 balls to finish on 157.