da doce： This was as euphoric a day for England cricketers as they could have dreamedof
Andy Jalil18-Aug-2000
Michael Vaughan and Graeme Hick ensured England’s eventual lead would be substantial
Photos © CricInfo
This was as euphoric a day for England cricketers as they could have dreamedof. For West Indies it was humiliation heaped upon disaster throughout thesecond day as they surrendered in the most ignominious fashion to go down byan innings and 39 runs in the fourth Test.To be one up in the series with just one Test to come, is a great position tobe in. What is important for England is to maintain the momentum gained inthis Test. They showed all the right qualities, there was application when itwas required at the start of the day, a determination to win and aggressionall through the latter half of the day when West Indies’ batsmen werestruggling to survive.That inability to despatch an apparently stricken opponent that has prevailedso often, with England, in similar circumstances in the recent past, was notthere this time as they, ruthlessly demolished the West Indies innings.With the match much in the balance at the start of the day, after thetourists had dismissed half the England side for 96 on the previous eveningand then removed the nightwatchman, England batsmen applied themselves totheir task with diligence, realising the importance of a first innings lead.The one advantage they had was that they batted practically all the way downthe order.Man-of-the-match Michael Vaughan and Graeme Hick ensured that their side’seventual lead would be substantial, with an invaluable stand which ended justtwo short of a century.After Curtly Ambrose and Courtney Walsh had produced their customary spell offine bowling, Vaughan and Hick took runs more freely from the others,although the two veteran fast bowlers also received some punishment in alater spell. West Indies fielding became ragged and catches went down,particularly an easy one from Dominic Cork that Wavell Hinds dropped and theground fielding was appalling at times.England were well in the lead – by fifty runs – by the time Hick, havingreached his eighteenth Test century was dismissed. Vaughan’s was thepenultimate wicket to fall, his 76 was the result of a determined effort thatimmensly helped England to a vitally important hundred-run lead in such a lowscoring match.From half-way through the second session of play, it was the story ofEngland’s bowlers. Their ascendency was from the outset as they totallydominated the afternoon. Darren Gough struck two early blows, withconsecutive balls he removed Adrian Griffith and Wavell Hinds, both withoutscoring. Then in his next over he had Brian Lara padding up to a ball for thesecond time in the match, to be dismissed for two.Gough finally completed his haul of four wickets, having Sherwin Campbellcaught at slip and West Indies, on 21 for 4, looked a beaten, thoroughlyoutplayed team and looked subdued. Jimmy Adams resisted for a brief period,taking the score to 49 before falling to Dominic Cork.Therafter, it was Andy Caddick’s turn to be in the limelight for the rest ofthe innings as he finished off, taking all the remaining five wickets. In aninspired fifteen ball-spell he took those five for five runs. It wasremarkable bowling and England were unstoppable.This was an extraordinary victory and the first time since 1912 that Englandhad won a Test match in this country inside two days. It remains to be seenif West Indies have the strength to bounce back to square the series at theOval.