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Harmison's seven wicket burst gives England victory
Fast bowler Steve Harmison grabbed a career-best seven wickets to help England beat West Indies by 10 wickets in the first Test at Kingston.
- Indo-Asian News Service
- Updated: February 25, 2007 09:05 AM IST
Read Time:3 min
Kingston, Jamaica:
Fast bowler Steve Harmison grabbed a career-best seven wickets to give the West Indies its lowest-ever Test score, as England moved to a sensational 10-wicket victory before lunch on the fourth day of the first cricket Test here today. The Durham pacer swept away the home team's batting with seven for 12 off 12.3 overs. The home team, trailing by 28 on first innings, reached just 47 all out in just under two hours at Sabina Park. Previously, the West Indies' lowest innings total was 51, scored in 1999 against Australia in Port-of-Spain, Trinidad. England captain Michael Vaughan hit the winning runs as England powered to its victory target of 20 without loss off just 2.3 overs. "We faltered with our bats," West Indies captain Brian Lara said. "The English bowlers bowled well. But 47 is something you really can't find a reason for." Vaughan praised Man of the Match Harmison's efforts, also crediting the visiting team's overall performance. "This morning was all about Steve Harmison," Vaughan said. "But the hard work was put in over the first three days." The West Indies resumed this morning on eight without loss, and Harmison broke through after 20 minutes. Chris Gayle flashed a cut off the edge to third slip, where Graham Thorpe snapped up a fine catch over his head. The lanky paceman added two more wickets in his next two overs to stun a packed home crowd of more than 10,000. Ramnaresh Sarwan, the vice-captain, fell for a pair as he shuffled across his stumps to be leg before for the second time in the match. Shivnarine Chanderpaul fell in similar fashion to the first innings as he deflected back onto his stumps. Harmison's new ball mate Matthew Hoggard contributed with the next two wickets, as the West Indies limped to 21 for five. First, Lara fell for a duck, becoming one of five Windies players who failed to score as he snicked to Andrew Flintoff at second slip. In the next over, Hoggard removed Devon Smith, a century-maker in the first innings, to a fine return catch from a firm on-drive. Smith had scored 12. Wicket-keeper Ridley Jacobs smacked three boundaries, as he and Ryan Hinds shared a sixth-wicket stand of 20 in an attempt to revive the innings. But Harmison then claimed Jacobs for 15 to a fended catch to short leg. Two balls later, Tino Best snicked to wicket-keeper Chris Read. Simon Jones replaced Hoggard and helped accelerate the West Indies' decline as Ryan Hinds edged to Read. Harmison then wrapped up the innings as he sliced through the tail-end. Adam Sanford and Fidel Edwards both edged tentative defensive strokes for comfortable catches to Marcus Trescothcik at first slip. Harmison's figures, his second five-wicket haul in his 13th Test, were the best ever in 39 Tests at this venue. He beat out fellow Englishman Trevor Bailey, who took seven for 34 with his medium pace in 1954. Hoggard took two wickets for 21 off nine overs, while Jones grabbed one for 10 off four overs. The second Test in the four-match series begins Friday in Trinidad. (AP)Topics mentioned in this article
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