AWESOME TAYLOR BLASTS WEST INDIES TO INCREDIBLE VICTORY

Tuesday February 10^th, 2009 – Castries, St. Lucia :  FAST BOWLER Jerome Taylor produced an awesome display of fast bowling here Saturday, claiming a career-best 5-11 to power the West Indies to an incredible victory by an innings and 23 runs over England just before tea on the fourth day.

The 24-year-old ripped through the top order as England slumped to 51 all out, their third lowest total in 880 Tests since 1877.

Beanpole left-arm spinner Sulieman Benn helped maintain the choke-hold with his second four-wicket haul of the match, ending with four for 31.  Only Andrew Flintoff reached double figures for the hapless visitors, hitting 24.

The West Indies players celebrated with a lap of honour in front of a crowd of close to 10,000 that included Olympic champion Usain Bolt. Jamaican Bolt joined the team on the field after the match to offer his congratulations and join the party.

The West Indies had earlier stretched their overnight 352 for seven to 392 to secure a crucial first innings lead of 74.

Australia-born Brendan Nash completed his third Test half century in succession before he fell for 55.

Benn added an enterprising 23 as the lower order rallied.

Taylor and Benn landed a couple of body blows before lunch that weakened the England defiance.

Taylor struck first as opener Alastair Cook completed a poor match when he fell for a duck. The left-hander edged to second slip where Devon Smith pouched the catch on the second attempt.
Benn removed Ian Bell, who wafted at a wide one and bottom edged a square cut to wicket-keeper Denesh Ramdin.

Lunch did little to suppress the West Indian appetite for wickets and Taylor exploded after the break.

His first was the key scalp of England's champion Kevin Pietersen, who lost his off stump to a magnificent out-swinging yorker as he played to leg.

Taylor was soon celebrating a five-wicket haul as he claimed captain Andrew Strauss, Paul Collingwood and Matt Prior in quick succession as England wobbled to 23 for six.

Strauss probed forward tentatively and feathered a nick to Ramdin. Collingwood tried to cut and chopped onto leg stump while Prior was defeated by an off-cutter and bowled through the gate.
Benn reduced England to 26 for seven when Stuart Broad prodded a catch to short leg.

Flintoff and Ryan Sidebottom ensured that England went past their lowest ever total (45 against Australia in Sydney in 1887) before the last three wickets tumbled for one run.

Sidebottom lasted 43 balls before Benn won a LBW decision against him, despite a TV challenge.

One run later, Flintoff swung at Fidel Edwards and was castled.

Benn wrapped up the innings five minutes before tea, his eighth wicket of the match coming when Steve Harmison missed a sweep and was bowled behind his back.

For match pictures, reports and stats visit www.digicelcricket.com

ENDS

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