The Hindu : Sport : Massive win for England

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Tuesday, May 29, 2007
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Massive win for England

Ted Corbett

- Photo: AP

WELL DONE: England's Kevin Pietersen celebrates with teammate Ryan Sidebottom after Devon Smith's dismissal. - Photo: AP

LEEDS: Hail and a long delay after a heavy rainstorm on the coldest day in Test cricket at around 7 degree Celsius; in part that explains why England was held up briefly on the fourth day of the second Test at Headingley before it won by an innings and 283 runs. It was West Indies's biggest defeat in Tests.

West Indies looked beaten from the moment its captain Ramnaresh Sarwan was injured — it was already without its lynchpin batsman Shivnarine Chanderpaul before the match — and Michael Vaughan and Kevin Pietersen scored the centuries that gave England a score of 570 for seven declared.

Sidebottom shines

Ryan Sidebottom, who finished the match with eight wickets for 84, was again the main agent of the West Indies destruction as the visitor was bowled out for 141. Like Vaughan he was returning to his Yorkshire roots and his match analysis will keep him in the Test side as long as he remembers the simple principles of line and length that brought his wickets here.

Sidebottom, his pop group hair mop swinging around as much as the ball, was also aided by the conditions, the unpractised batsmen and the willingness of umpire Asad Rauf to raise his finger.

Vaughan's feat

Pietersen had his reward from his highest Test score and the man of the match award; Vaughan had the satisfaction in his comeback Test of equalling Peter May's record of 20 Test victories. As the Windies searches around for a replacement for Sarwan — anyone but Brian Lara seems to be the watchword — it is difficult to visualise this unhappy side managing a draw so that Vaughan ought to overtake May in the two matches next month at Old Trafford and Chester-le-Street.

Careless batting

Chris Gayle was the first to go, caught behind off a stroke that spoke volumes about his unwillingness to sell his wicket dearly. There was no more play for three hours after a downpour and before hail stopped play for a second time Sylvester Joseph became Sidebottom's third lbw victim of the innings and Devon Smith was caught off a ball which swung down the offside which Andrew Strauss let slip before he snapped up the rebound.

Only 19 overs had been bowled in the innings when Smith became the fifth man out and by now Vaughan had only one man anywhere near a boundary — Sidebottom at fine leg having a rest between overs or Panesar. For a while, as Sidebottom lost his early verve, Bravo prospered and Morton followed in his footsteps until he skied a catch to the wicket-keeper Matt Prior which left West Indies at 120 for six.

Bravo defiant

More clouds rolled over during the tea interval at 137 for six. Bravo, named for a World Cup footballer in spite of the temptation to see it as a description of his colourful batting, went chancelessly to fifty, pulling, driving and cutting powerfully and clearly not wanting to be associated with the pathetic performances of his colleagues.

After tea three wickets had gone in eight balls for no runs and that as fair a summary of the difference between the two teams as you can find. "We must make sure we repeat this performance at Old Trafford next week," said Vaughan.

SCOREBOARD

England - 1st innings: 570 seven decl.

West Indies - 1st innings: 146.

West Indies - 2nd innings: Gayle c Prior b Plunkett 13, D. Ganga lbw b Sidebottom 9, D. Powell lbw b Sidebottom 0, D. Smith Strauss b Sidebottom 16, S. Joseph lbw b Sidebottom 1, R. Morton c Prior b Harmison 25, D. Bravo c Plunkett b Panesar 52, D. Ramdin lbw b Harmison 5; J. Taylor b Harmison 0, C. Colleymore not out) 0, R. Sarwan (absent hurt), Extras (b-1, lb-14, nb-5) 20; Total (in 42.1 overs) 141.

Fall of wickets: 1-20, 2-22, 3-4-47, 5-57, 6-120, 7-141, 8-141, 9-141.

England bowling: Sidebottom 15-4-44-4; Plunkett 8-1-25-1; Harmison 13.1-2-37-3; Panesar 1-20-1.

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