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England level series with 2-wicket win

England snatched one of the great Test victories today with a two-wicket win over West Indies on the third day of the second Test at Lord's.

The 100th Test at cricket's international headquarters proved one of the most memorable.

After coming back from the dead on Friday to dismiss West Indies for 54 in their second innings England reached a difficult victory target of 188, which at one stage appeared to have eluded them.

Dominic Cork, recalled to England colours after 18 months out of the Test arena, provided the necessary aggression to level the five-Test series for his country after the magnificent Courtney Walsh had reduced the home side to 160 for eight.

Walsh cut through the England top and middle order to return his best Test figures against England.

His six for 74 was his 21st five wicket haul in Test cricket and his 10 for 117 in the match was the third time he has taken 10 or more wickets in a Test.

But Walsh, a specialist in rescuing lost causes, met his match in the doughty Cork, assisted by an equally spirited Darren Gough who scored four in an unbroken ninth wicket partnership of 31.

Cork swiped a bold six over mid-wicket from the erratic Franklyn Rose and hit three boundaries, including the winning runs backward of point as an ecstatic crowd ran on to the pitch.

His 33 not out, added to his seven wickets in the two West Indies' innings, won him the man-of-the-match award, although Walsh must have run him close.

Play began 50 minutes late after light morning drizzle, time enough for Mark Ramprakash (2) to record his fourth successive failure at opener against West Indies when he dragged a Walsh delivery on to his stumps.

The afternoon session developed into a duel of rare tension and quality between the implacable Curtly Ambrose and the stubborn Atherton.

Ambrose on his farewell tour of England can never have performed better or with less luck. From a dozen relaxed strides, he delivered 13 overs of hostile pace, immaculate length and sharp late movement and lift.

Atherton concentrated fiercely and hung on grimly.

The former England skipper found a doughty partner in Michael Vaughan who moved meticulously forward to counter the late movement and played some deft on-drives.

The Yorkshireman also endured a torrid examination by Ambrose but the pair saw off the giant Antiguan, who threw his arms wide open in frustration after beating the bat yet again in the last over of his opening spell.

Batting began to look comparatively straightforward as Ambrose and Walsh rested and retreated to the boundary ropes where they gravely acknowledged the applause of their supporters.

Then Vaughan unexpectedly hung his bat out tamely to a Walsh delivery and was caught behind by Ridley Jacobs for 41. West Indies celebrated with much hand-slapping as the complexion of a fascinating game changed yet again.

Walsh, running in from the pavilion end for the first time in the match, then dismissed Graeme Hick caught by Brian Lara at first slip for 15.

Two balls later he trapped Atherton lbw for 45 and the tide began to turn West Indies' way.

In another double strike Walsh sent Alec Stewart (18) and Craig White (0) back to the pavilion in the space of three balls.

The dismissal of Andy Caddick for seven at 160, an overdue wicket for Ambrose, seemed to spell the end for England.

Then Cork came to the wicket to play an innings to delight the capacity crowd, win the match and restore public interest in the series.