BASSETERRE, St Kitts (CMC):

Codville Rogers hit an entertaining half-century, but Monty Panesar enhanced his selection claims for the opening Test against the West Indies with a four-wicket haul, as England took command of their three-day tour match against St Kitts and Nevis yesterday.

The left-handed Rogers stroked 63 to guide St Kitts & Nevis to a respectable 251 after England declared at their overnight 424 for eight at Warner Park.

Left-armer Panesar, one of three spinners selected in the 16-man touring squad, finished with four for 53 to lead England's attack.

Captain Andrew Strauss then struck an unbeaten 59 to compensate for his first innings failure, while Alastair Cook got his second half-century of the match with 50, as England reached 118 without loss at the close.

The hosts were off to a shaky start but Rogers' half-century helped them consolidate to reach their eventual total. He stroked 12 fours from 86 balls in 105 minutes of batting and shared a 42-run stand for the fifth wicket with Elsroy Powell, who scored 18.

Joel Simmonds chipped in with a valuable 48, which came from 68 balls in 104 minutes and included nine fours. He was behind the best partnership of the innings, a 78-run, eighth-wicket stand with 20-year old right-hander Akito Willett, who hit six fours in 36 from 57 balls.

Earlier, St Kitts & Nevis lost teenage opener Kejel Tyson for three with the score on 13, but Shane Jeffers scored 27 from 46 balls and Steve Liburd cracked 25, also from 46 balls, as the duo added 47 for the second wicket to steady the innings.

Three quick wickets fell for 36 runs as the hosts slipped to 96 for four, but Rogers held up England's progress before Panesar wiped out the lower order to give the tourists a lead of 173 runs on first innings.