England take comfortable win

Another test 5-for from Monty Panesar did most of the work for England on day 5, they secured a seven wicket victory over West Indies.

Resuming on 83-3, West Indies were faced with an uphill, but possible task of taking a draw from the match. Things took a turn for their worse early on though, Chris Gayle edged on from Matthew Hoggard behind early on, without adding to his overnight 52. Dwayne Bravo once again though, was able to offer some resistance, and some support for the immovable Shivnarine Chanderpaul.

Bravo took a while to get going, but looked to attack the English seamers. He took to hooking Steve Harmison, during another good spell from the Durham pace man. He was fast and threatening, and took surprising bounce from the pitch. Once Bravo’s attacking instincts got the better of him and he skied Monty Panesar to mid off, he was able to get at the West Indian lower order.

Panesar accounted for Samuels and Ramdin, but after the young wicketkeeper had been put through his paces by Harmison. On his home soil, Harmison then dismissed Daren Powell, lobbing to mid off, and Fidel Edwards, middle stump knocked out the ground.

Chanderpaul did find a little help from Corey Collymore who scored an unbeaten 16. Chanderpaul, following another lengthy innings, was eventually dismissed, nearly 18 hours of batting after his last dismissal. It was perhaps fitting that it was Monty Panesar to finally get him out, Panesar bowled excellently today, he found turn, and exploited the rough patches with exquisite accuracy. Him facing up against the Indian batting line up will certainly be an interesting prospect.

With the West Indies bowled out, England’s target was 110. Powell and Edwards found the new ball to their liking, there was plenty of swing on display. Andrew Strauss was dropped in the slips twice, before Daren Powell did it all himself, knocking back his off stump. The slips did hang on to an edge from Alistair Cook, though, as England slipped to 29-2. There was to be no dramatic conclusion though, Vaughan and Pietersen eased England towards the target. They scored at a quick rate, but Pietersen did fall to Gayle shortly before the target, to allow Collingwood to hit the winning runs.

West Indies 287
Shivnarine Chanderpaul 136*, Dwayne Bravo 44
Ryan Sidebottom 5-88, Matthew Hoggard 2-58, Steve Harmison 2-78

England 400
Paul Collingwood 128, Andrew Strauss 77, Matthew Prior 62
Fidel Edwards 5-112, Daren Powell 3-89, Corey Collymore 2-116

West Indies 222
Shivnarine Chanderpaul 70, Chris Gayle 52
Monty Panesar 5-46, Matthew Hoggard 3-28

England 110-3
Michael Vaughan 48*
Daren Powell 2-38

England win by seven wickets

Cricket Web Man of the Match : Shivnarine Chanderpaul