England accuracy and discipline restricts West Indies on good batting pitch

Trent Bridge, lunchtime: West Indies 195 for nine; England to bat

England turned in a sound bowling and fielding performance in restricting the West Indies to 195 for nine wickets in their innings in the final group match of the NatWest Series at Trent Bridge in Nottingham.

Chris Gayle and Chris Adams got into the thirties, but the accurate, disciplined England bowlers allowed none of the batsmen to take charge. Craig White was the leading wicket-taker with three, but it was essentially a typical team effort.

The only time their dominance was challenged was when Franklyn Rose lay about him for 29, but by then it was too late to change the course on the innings. Unless the West Indian bowlers can pull something unusual out of the bag, England should be able to record another victory on a good pitch.

Sarwan's freak dismissal

If Campbell could be considered unlucky to be out playing the ball on to his stumps via the body, it is hard to think of a word to describe the freak dismissal of debutant Sarwan (20). He mistimed a drive at White, which bounced up off the pitch behind him; as Sarwan followed through, the end of his bat met the ball just behind his head, and it ricocheted on to his stumps. He had been in the process of reviving the innings in partnership with his captain, only to be struck down freakishly just as he was beginning to settle in. West Indies 101 for four.

Powell (1) fell in White's next over, driving at a ball just outside off stump and playing it on to his stumps through the gate; 107 for five, and the West Indies were sinking deeper into trouble. England did miss an opportunity to press home their advantage further when Mullally failed to hold a sharp return catch from Jacobs, on 3. He had only two more to his credit, though, when he was slow starting off for a quick single by Adams near Thorpe at midwicket, and a fine throw led to a run-out; West Indies 132 for six. After such a fine series in South Africa last winter, Jacobs has had a hard time on this tour and may have to fight for his place.

Entertaining play
Rose attacks bowling

West Indian hopes of a revival even at this stage seemed to have ended when Adams (36) drove at Mullally and played the ball on to his stumps off the inside edge; 139 for seven. But in fact there followed the most entertaining partnership of the innings as Rose, partnered by Nagamootoo, opened up and attacked the bowling, helped by a few big swings, mishits and snicks. They added 31 before Nagamootoo (11) fatally checked a drive against Gough and was caught by Ealham behind the bowler; 170 for eight in the 47th over.

Rose and Dillon continued to swing vigorously, the former hitting an entertaining 29 before holing out to Franks at long-on off White in the final over; 189 for nine. Dillon (14) and King (1) were not out as the innings ended on 195 for nine.