England rout Windies in two days

England scored a sensational innings and 39 runs victory over the West Indies on the second day of the fourth Test at Headingley on Friday to take a 2-1 lead in the five-match series.

Andy Caddick took five wickets, including four in six legitimate deliveries, as the West Indies, already in deep trouble at 49 for five, slumped to 61 all out in their second innings.

Ramnaresh Sarwan was unbeaten on 17.

It was only the second time since World War II that a Test had been won inside two days. The last time was when Australia beat New Zealand by an innings and 103 runs at Wellington in 1945/46.

It was the first time a Test in England had been won inside two days since Australia beat England by 10 wickets at Trent Bridge in 1921.

England must be confident of recording their first series victory over the West Indies since they beat them 2-1 in England in 1969. The final Test is at The Oval on August 31.

After Dominic Cork had bowled tourists lynch pin and captain Jimmy Adams for 19, Somerset fast bowler Caddick, who finished with figures of 11.2-5-14-5, took over.

Wicketkeeper Ridley Jacobs moved across his stumps and was given out lbw by New Zealand umpire Doug Cowie for one although the ball looked to be going down the legside.

There was no doubt two balls later when Nixon McLean had his off-stump knocked out for a duck and then Curtly Ambrose was yorked first ball. Reon King avoided the hat-trick but to his third ball he was clean bowled by Caddick.

Courtney Walsh was powerless to resist, bowled by Caddick for three, sparking a mass pitch invasion. Ramnaresh Sarwan was 17 not out, the match finishing at 1610 GMT.

Fellow-new ball bowler, Yorkshire's Darren Gough was also in superb form (10-3-30-4) taking four wickets for 12 runs including two in two balls.

With the first ball of his third over Gough removed left-handed opener Adrian Griffith for a golden duck, the ball knocking his off-stump out of the ground.

Next ball Wavell Hinds was caught on the crease, plumb lbw and the tourists were three for two.

Brian Lara came in with Gough on a hat-trick but pushed forward and survived. However, on two he played no stroke and New Zealand umpire Doug Cowie gave him out lbw to leave the tourists 11 for three in the fifth over.

Gough, 29, had taken three wickets for five runs in 10 balls to the delight of his loyal fans in a sell-out 16,500 crowd.

It became four for eight in 29 when Sherwin Campbell, on 12, got a defensive edge and was brilliantly caught by Graeme Hick at second slip, holding on despite third slip Graham Thorpe diving across his path.

West Indies were now 21 for four and Gough and Caddick had a scarcely believable field of six slips and a gully.

Earlier in the day there was further Yorkshire glory when Gough's teammate Michael Vaughan top-scored with 76, his best Test score, as England made 272 for a first innings lead of 100.

Vaughan 25, who resumed on his overnight score of six, faced 132 balls and struck seven fours, the best a textbook on-drive off Courtney Walsh.

However, any chance of a maiden Test century was ended by Curtly Ambrose. With the second legitimate delivery with the new ball Ambrose got Vaughan to edge to Ridley Jacobs, England 269 for nine.

It was a fine effort from Vaughan, 25, who was born in Lancashire but moved to arch-rivals Yorkshire to further his career. His previous best in Test cricket was 69 against South Africa at Centurion last season.

Earlier Vaughan shared a seventh wicket stand of 98 in 154 balls, with Graeme Hick, who justified his selection with a well-made 59. Worcestershire captain Hick, recalled for the tenth time in a stop-start Test career, showed no sign of nerves facing 95 balls, striking seven fours including authoritative shots against Ambrose and Walsh as well as the lesser bowlers.

However, he lost concentration against West Indies captain Jimmy Adams' left-arm spin and was stumped by Jacobs attempting an indifferent defensive stroke.

Then it was the turn of the England bowlers to earn their piece of glory against a West Indies side which hardly had time to digest this lightning defeat.

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Mail Cricket Editor