WI forced to settle for draw

ST JOHN’S: Captain Michael Vaughan completed a fluent 140 yesterday as England secured a 3-0 series win with a battling draw in the fourth and final cricket Test against the West Indies at the Antigua Recreation Ground. England, trailing on first innings by 466 runs, were 422 for five when West Indies captain Brian Lara conceded the draw with a half hour still remaining. Vaughan lifted the Wisden Trophy on a sunny afternoon in front of 3,000 travelling fans, who chanted and waved flags to acknowledge the historic achievement.

It was the first time since 1968 that England won a series in the Caribbean and the first time since 1955 that the West Indies lost a home series by such a wide margin. Vaughan, 61 overnight, lashed 20 boundaries off 268 balls in five and three quarter hours in posting his 11th Test century in his 45th match. Marcus Trescothick (88) just missed out on a ton of his own, and there were half centuries for Mark Butcher (61) and Nasser Hussain (56). When England lost three wickets for 42 runs to the part-time spinners in the final session, the home team sniffed an unlikely win. But Graham Thorpe (23 not out) and Geraint Jones (10 not out) steadied the visitors’ nerves to ensure the West Indies would  not force a consolation win. 

Leg-spinner Ramnaresh Sarwan took two for 26 and Ryan Hinds claimed two for 83 to lead the local bowling. The 29-year-old Vaughan and opening partner Trescothick resumed at 145 without loss with both in sight of three figures. Vaughan continued from 61 while left-hander Trescothick was on 74. The Somerset man reeled off two boundaries as he closed in on a sixth test hundred in his 47th match. But 12 runs short he scooped a slower ball from pacer Fidel Edwards to short extra  cover. Trescothick and Vaughan added 182 for the first wicket, a Test best between the pair, beating the 168 they put on against Sri Lanka in 2002 at Lord’s. The powerful Trescothick batted four hours and faced 188 balls in a knock spiced with 10 boundaries.

Vaughan, 80 when he lost Trescothick, continued to bat with confidence and passed three figures quarter hour before the interval. It was a trademark stroke that brought him his landmark, a searing off drive producing his 13th boundary. His century took five hours and occupied 210 balls. Vaughan’s innings was eventually ended a half hour after lunch when part-time leg-spinner Ramnaresh Sarwan claimed him to a gloved catch to wicket-keeper Ridley Jacobs. Butcher and Hussain added a further 92 for the third wicket on the excellent batting surface.

But when an ugly, cross-batted slog from Butcher off Hinds ended with a slip catch to Chris Gayle, there were a few English wobbles. Butcher stroked six fours off 163 balls in 216 minutes.  Hinds also accounted for Hussain after his half century, bowling the experienced right-hander behind his back as he swept. The Essex man cracked seven fours off 107 deliveries in two hours and 10 minutes. Sarwan’s rank full toss removed Flintoff three overs into the final hour, but the West Indies were not able to make any more inroads. (AP)