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Tuesday, 29 May 2012

England Seal Second Trent Test


England cruised to a nine-wicket victory in the second Test against West Indies at Trent Bridge to move into an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series.

Set 108 to win in their second innings, the hosts reached their victory target for the loss of just skipper Andrew Strauss around half an hour after tea on day four.

Earlier in the day England had dismissed West Indies for 165 with Marlon Samuels - who made a fine century first time around - again providing stubborn resistence, this time making an unbeaten 76 to ensure the tourists reached some sort of respectability.

But any faint hopes Darren Sammy's men had of pulling off an extraordinary victory were quickly extinguished as England knocked off the runs in serene style, Strauss the only man to depart as he was caught off the bowling of Samuels for 45.

Resuming in the morning on 61-6 with first innings centurions Samuels and Darren Sammy at the crease, England found West Indies in much more resolute form than on the third evening.

The pair started confidently, Sammy off the mark immediately and Samuels flicking his fifth ball of the morning for four.

They continued busily, Samuels caressing a cover drive for four to bring up his side's 100 and a lead of 52 after an hour's play.

It took a drinks break to disrupt Sammy, man-of-the-match Tim Bresnan trapping him leg before on the back foot three balls after the interruption for his fourth wicket - a review from the Windies skipper proving in vain.

New man Kemar Roach made a lively start to his innings, taking three boundaries in four balls off Broad - two authentic attacking strokes either side of a mis-cued hook off the glove.

Samuels dropped a gentle single to bring up his half-century, in 130 balls, but Roach departed when Anderson claimed England's sixth lbw - DRS reversing an initial not-out verdict.

At lunch the tourists were 83 in front and Samuels scored seven more after break before losing Shane Shillingford to the under-used spin of Graeme Swann - who did not bowl at all in the morning session. Shillingford, held at slip by Anderson, lasted 22 balls but did not trouble the scorers.

Joined at the crease by number 11 Ravi Rampaul, Samuels, realising time was running out, smashed 16 runs off one Swann over, including two huge sixes to take him to 76.

But he had no chance to make any more as Anderson had Rampaul caught at third slip by Bresnan to end the innings on 165.

England began their chase in sedate fashion, with just two runs in the first four overs before Strauss took on Roach's short ball and twice pulled in front of square for four.

Cook remained cautious, but after Strauss had run his fourth boundary to third man as Sammy joined the attack, Cook cut away Shillingford for his first four of the day.

His second was soon in coming as he flicked Sammy down to fine leg and by that stage England were already past the halfway mark.

By now the tourists had accepted their fate, demonstrated when wicketkeeper Denesh Ramdin allowed a Strauss edge to sail past him without attempting a catch.

The tourists did claim one scalp after tea when Strauss unexpectedly chipped Samuels to Darren Bravo at cover, five short of his half-century, but Cook and Jonathan Trott (17no) completed the job, the latter winning it with four to fine-leg.






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