Batty spins England to victory

BRIDGETOWN: England spinner Gareth Batty pressed his claims for a Test place with five for 53 as the tourists hammered the Carib Beer XI by eight wickets in their three-day tour match at the Three Ws Oval yesterday. Resuming the final day on 51 for one, still 167 behind, the Carib Beer XI frustrated England with some enterprising batting but, despite a last-wicket stand of 34, were all out for 229. England lost Paul Collingwood and Batty before passing their victory target.

Having won the first two Tests against West Indies to take a 2-0 lead in the four-match series, England carried their form into the tour match, dominating all three days. They were made to work hard on the final day, mainly thanks to a half-century from Sylvester Joseph, whose 50 helped put the Carib Beer XI on the way to making England bat again. Ashley Giles grabbed Joseph’s wicket with the score on 91, but the home side continued to battle, with opener Daren Ganga, called up to the West Indies’ Test squad for this week’s third Test as cover for the injured Devon Smith, making a controlled 39.

Tonito Willett (21) and Dwayne Bravo (33) added 47 for the fourth wicket but when Willett fell with the score on 163, the home side collapsed to 193 for eight. Just as it looked like England would wrap up an innings victory, fast bowler Jermaine Lawson and Dwight Washington frustrated them with a partnership of 34 for the final wicket. The third Test begins here on Thursday.