England win in a flash

England beat West Indies by an innings and 39 runs on the second day of the fourth Test at Headingley yesterday in an extraordinary…

England beat West Indies by an innings and 39 runs on the second day of the fourth Test at Headingley yesterday in an extraordinary match to take a 2-1 lead in the five-Test series.

Andy Caddick took five wickets, including four in six legitimate deliveries, as West Indies already in deep trouble at 49 for five slumped to 61 all out, Ramnaresh Sarwan, 17 not out.

It was only the second time since the second World War 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.

READ MORE

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 31st.

After Dominic Cork had bowled the 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 4.10 p.m.

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.

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.

This became four for eight in 29 when Sherwin Campbell, on 12, got a defensive edge.

Earlier in the day there was further Yorkshire glory when

Gough's team-mate Michael Vaughan top-scored with 76, his best Test score, as England made 272 for a first innings lead of 100.

Earlier Vaughan shared a seventh wicket stand of 98 in 154 balls, with Graeme Hick, who justified his selection with a well-made 59.

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.