England inflict Windies record Test defeat by AFP

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Ground:	Headingley, Leeds
Scorecard:	England v West Indies
Player:	KP Pietersen, RJ Sidebottom
Event:	West Indies in England 2007

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DateLine: 29th May 2007

 

England inflicted West Indies' worst Test defeat of all time, breaking a 50-year-old record, as they won the second Test by an innings and 283 runs to go 1-0 up in the four-match series with more than a day to spare at Headingley here Monday.

 

West Indies, 137 for six at tea on the fourth day, lasted just 25 balls after the resumption, losing their last three wickets on 141 after being made to follow-on.

 

This loss surpassed their innings and 237-run reverse against England at The Oval in 1957.

 

Left-arm quick Ryan Sidebottom, in his first Test since making his debut six years ago, was the star of England's attack with match figures of eight for 86 from 27 overs.

 

England's victory had been set up by man-of-the-match Kevin Pietersen's Test best 226 and captain Michael Vaughan's 103, in his first Test after 18 months out injured, in a huge total of 570 for seven declared and meant Peter Moores had a victory to celebrate in his debut match as England coach.

 

"It's been a special week," said Vaughan after the hosts, following a 5-0 Ashes series reverse in Australia, recorded their first Test victory since their controversial forfeit success against Pakistan at The Oval in August.

 

"I was nervous on that first morning but it's nice to come back and do well," he also told Sky Sports' after equalling Peter May's record of 20 Test wins as England captain.

 

"We are 1-0 up with two to play and we've got to make sure we go to Old Trafford (where the third Test starts on June 7) and continue to play the same standard of cricket," said Vaughan, who tied May's mark in 34 Tests compared to his predecessor's 41 games in charge.

 

Vaughan, sidelined with a career-threatening knee problem, a hamstring injury and, most recently a broken finger, insisted he felt all right before paying tribute to Sidebottom.

 

"He bowled beautifully, swinging the ball and bowling at a fair pace," Vaughan also told Sky Sports.

 

Stephen Harmison wrapped up the innings when he bowled Jerome Taylor for nought after Dwayne Bravo, who top-scored with 52, had holed out against left-arm spinner Monty Panesar.

 

West Indies captain Ramnaresh Sarwan was still unable to bat after sustaining a shoulder injury fielding on Friday and that meant the match was over with the tourists' nine wickets down.

 

England were held up by a sixth-wicket stand of 63 between Runako Morton (25) and Bravo.

 

But that ended shortly before tea when Morton top-edged a hook off a short, straight ball from Harmison and was caught by wicket-keeper Matthew Prior.

 

Bravo, undaunted, hooked England's quickest bowler for four to bring up a 61-ball fifty with a six and six boundaries.

 

However, Harmison found some form late on to finish the innings with three for 37 although Sidebottom led the way with four for 44.

 

Vaughan, with West Indies on 104 for five, switched on Monday to Panesar.

 

But his first ball was confidently on-driven for four by Bravo, one of the few West Indies' batsman to use his feet against Panesar in the drawn first Test at Lord's, where the spinner took a career-best six for 129.

 

Bravo followed that up with a six over long-off.

 

West Indies, 31 for three at lunch, declined to 47 for four when Sidebottom, 29, who began his career at Headingley with Yorkshire before moving to Nottinghamshire three years ago, had Sylvester Joseph lbw for one.

 

Sidebottom, only playing because Matthew Hoggard was injured, saw Devon Smith become the latest flat-footed West Indies batsman to lose his wicket against him when he edged to first slip where Andrew Strauss held on at the second attempt.

 

West Indies suffered a major blow before the match started when senior batsman Shivnarine Chanderpaul, withdrew because of a knee injury.

 

Rain meant only four overs were possible before lunch on Monday. But that was enough time for paceman Plunkett to dismiss a squared-up Chris Gayle, edging to Prior for 13, after West Indies resumed on 22 for two.

 

England took the field without batsman Ian Bell, who was continuing to receive treatment to his lower back following a spasm he suffered on Saturday.

 

Before play began on Monday, players and officials observed a minute's silence in memory of International Cricket Council (ICC) president Percy Sonn, who died on Sunday, and wore black armbands as a mark of respect.

(Article: Copyright © 2007 AFP)