Batty's the boy as England toast another victory

Tuesday, March 30, 2004

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (AFP): Off-spinner Gareth Batty took five wickets as England continued their winning ways in the Caribbean with an eight-wicket win over a Carib Beer XI in their three-day match on Sunday.

After gaining a first innings lead of 218 runs, England dismissed the composite Caribbean side for 229 in their second innings with Batty capturing five for 53 runs from 24 overs.

The visitors were set a modest target of 12 runs to win and reached the magic number after losing makeshift openers Paul Collingwood, caught behind off Jermaine Lawson for a first-ball duck, and Batty, bowled by Ravi Rampaul for five, before Rikki Clarke hit a searing straight drive off Lawson to clinch the win.

Earlier, the Carib Beer XI had continued from their overnight total of 51 for one and, though they scored quickly, they reached 167 for four at lunch before Batty spun his web around their batsmen after the interval.

Sylvester Joseph top-scored with 51 and Daren Ganga scored 39, but did not justify the West Indies selectors' confidence in him ahead of the third Test which begins here on Thursday. 

They shared 82 for the second wicket that was the biggest stand of the innings.

Dwayne Bravo made 33, but did not advance his cause, after picking up the best all-rounder award in the West Indies first-class championship that ended on Sunday.

Other useful contributions came from Tonito Willet with 21 and Lawson with a stroke-filled 28 towards the end that ensured England would have to bat a second time in the match.

James Anderson took three for 56 from 18.1 overs and Ashley Giles chipped in with two wickets.

England will now prepare to face West Indies in the third Test, starting at Bridgetown's Kensington Oval on Thursday.

Michael Vaughan's side lead the four-Test series 2-0 and are looking for a victory to safeguard their place in history as the England side that broke the 36-year Test series jinx their team had in the Caribbean. 

Scores: 

Carib Beer XI 129 (Sylvester Joseph 36, Daren Ganga 25; Matthew Hoggard 4-27, Ashley Giles 2-25, James Anderson 2-30, Rikki Clarke 2- 38) and 229 (Sylvester Joseph 50, Daren Ganga 39, Dwayne Bravo 33, Jermaine Lawson 28, Tonito Willett 21; Gareth Batty 5-53, James Anderson 3-56, Ashley Giles 2-34).

England 347 (Graham Thorpe 88, Geraint Jones 66, Marcus Trescothick 50, Rikki Clarke 35, Ashley Giles 22, Paul Collingwood 20; Jermaine Lawson 4-94, Dave Mohammed 3-114) and 13 for two.

England won by eight wickets

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