WEST INDIES v ENGLAND 1980-81

At Sabina Park, Kingston, April 10, 11, 12, 14, 15. Drawn. England finished the tour on a note of hope for the future when Gower earned them a draw by batting through the last seven and threequarter hours for 154 not out. His final partnership with another young player, Downton, begun at a moment of crisis, was unbroken when the match ended three and a quarter hours later.

West Indies made their only change of the series, Marshall for Roberts, while England brought back Jackman for Stevenson. On winning the toss for the only time in the series, Lloyd put England in, but the pitch proved slower than expected and England made a flying start under the influence of Gooch, who reached 103 out of 155 in only the 40th over. He was particularly severe on Croft, who began the match having taken 21 wickets in the series for 13 apiece but was now struck for 56 in his first eight overs. However, Gooch's partners came and went, and when he was out for 153 in the 68th over the score was only 249 for five. On the second morning, Holding bowled at his fastest with the new ball, and from 278 for six overnight England were all out in half an hour for the addition of only 7 runs.

England bowled tidily - Emburey's 31 overs cost only 54 runs - and fielded well to keep West Indies to 193 for three by the end of the day. But Lloyd again played faultlessly, putting on 118 with Gomes for the fifth wicket, and although the later batsmen were less successful than in Antigua, Gomes batted for the last five and a quarter hours of the innings for 90 not out to give West Indies a lead of 157.

England's second innings began on the fourth morning, and after an hour, when they were 32 for three, they seemed certain to lose, probably in four days. But in a vigorous stand, Gower and Willey, who by lunch had already made 59 in 55 minutes, attacked Croft much as Gooch had done in the first innings, and the loss of nearly three hours' play through drizzle had given England a chance of survival by the close, at which time the score was 134 for three, Gower and Willey having added 102 in 125 minutes. Moreover, Marshall was out of the match with a strained rib muscle.

Next morning Gower and Willey took their fourth wicket stand more carefully to 136 before Willey skied Richards to mid-wicket after an hour. Butcher was out third ball, and when Botham was out after lunch in the second over of the new ball, West Indies looked in sight of victory. The England lead was only 58, six wickets had gone, and nearly four hours remained. However, Downton stood up staunchly to some hostile bowling by Holding, the crucial period of the new ball was safely negotiated, the fast bowlers began to feel the absence of Marshall and not another wicket was lost. Gower had reached his fourth Test century in four and a quarter hours, just before lunch, having given only one chance in a massive piece of concentration. When 29, he cut hard at Richards and survived a sharp chance to Lloyd at slip.