Atherton applauds Ambrose, Walsh

West Indies were 33 without loss in their second innings at close of play on the fourth day of the fifth and final Test here at The Oval on Sunday, needing another 341 runs to win and square the series.

Sherwin Campbell was 15 not out and Adrian Griffith 17 not out.

Michael Atherton's 108, his 15th Test century, held England's second innings together and allowed them to set a target of 374, although this was still short of the 400-plus captain Nasser Hussain would have wanted for comfort.

Even so, the West Indies still have to score the third highest total in Test history by a team batting last if they are to win this match.

Atherton, 32, one of the few current players capable of batting endurance, was at the crease for five minutes short of seven hours before a cut single to third man off Curtly Ambrose took him to a hundred off 315 balls including 13 fours. His most flamboyant boundary saw him cover-drive Courtney Walsh with one-hand coming off the bat but otherwise he was a model of orthodoxy.

Afterwards a tired Atherton said: "The challenge of facing Ambrose and Walsh is what Test cricket is all about. When I was walking off I heard the reception they got from the crowd and it was fully deserved because they are great bowlers."

Atherton was on the verge of becoming the first England batsman to carry his bat since he himself achieved the feat against New Zealand at Christchurch in 1996/97 when he was last man out.

After one more boundary, an understandably tired shot saw him caught behind by 'keeper Ridley Jacobs off Walsh after 446 minutes and 331 balls of magnificent concentration. It was the only chance he gave in all that time. Darren Gough was one not out.

Curiously it was Atherton's first Test century in London in his 25th match in the capital.

World record-holder Walsh, 37, finished with fine figures of 38-17-73-4 in his final Test bowling stint in England, extending his record to 483 wickets at an average of 24.25 each.

He walked off to deserved cheers from the crowd, arm-in-arm with long-time pace partner Ambrose who has said this would be his final Test.

Antiguan Ambrose, 37 later this month, who seemed to have a tear in his eye as he left, took 1-36 for a final Test record of 405 wickets at an average of 20.99 in 98 matches.

Both Walsh and Ambrose recorded their 1,000th maiden in Test cricket during this innings.

Nixon McLean, one of the pacemen who will hope to take over from the veteran quicks, finished with three for 60.

Walsh had to suffer the indignity of being flicked off middle-stump for six by Dominic Cork. The Derbyshire captain's 26 off 25 balls featured four fours, too, and added much needed impetus to the England innings.

Earlier, Walsh took two in three balls to leave England 139 for six in the 86th over.

First he had Michael Vaughan lbw for nine, the Yorkshireman having faced 46 balls.

Two deliveries later he saw off Graeme Hick, the Worcestershire captain edging straight to Campbell at second slip.

Atherton and Alec Stewart had been making sound progress before the England wicketkeeper gave his wicket away.

Trying to cut a bad, short ball from leg-spinner Mahendra Nagamootoo, Stewart, on 25, edged to first slip where Campbell took a fine reaction catch. The former England captain had faced 105 balls and struck three fours.

The only hint of trouble for Atherton came on 68 when he was called by Stewart for a quick single off Nagamootoo and Ramnaresh Sarwan's throw from mid-on hit the stumps.

However, television replays clearly showed Atherton had made his ground.

Later, Craig White ran himself out for 18, Griffith's direct under-arm hit from cover giving the Yorkshireman no chance, England 163 for seven.

England scored slowly before lunch 47 runs coming off 31 overs, 17 of which were maidens.

Their caution was understandable. They lead the series 2-1 and have not beaten the West Indies in a Test campaign since 1969.

However, if West Indies are to preserve their 31-year-old unbeaten record against England their batsmen must demonstrate similar excellence to that already shown by their leading bowlers.

In 1999, during the third Test against Australiaat Bridgetown, Barbados, Brian Lara made 153 not out in a winning total of 311 for nine. How the tourists could do with similar heroics from their star batsman on Monday.

"I'd rather be in our position than theirs," said Atherton. "We've played some good cricket in this series but we know we've got a hard day ahead."

Mail Cricket Editor