TRENT BRIDGE — England beat West Indies by nine wickets to win the second cricket Test with more than a day to spare at Trent Bridge here on Monday and take an unbeatable 2-0 lead in this three-match series.
Set 108 for victory on the fourth day, England finished on 111 for one.
England captain Andrew Strauss, who made 141 in the first innings to follow his hundred in the five-wicket first Test win at Lord’s, was out for 45 when he chipped part-time spinner Marlon Samuels to short extra-cover with his side just 19 runs short of victory.
But fellow left-hander Alastair Cook (43 not out) and Jonathan Trott (17 not out) completed the win. “We’re delighted to get over the line,” said Strauss. “It was quite hard work at times. It’s been a hot, hard four days and there were some really good performances from the lads.”
Earlier, Samuels made a dashing 76 not out, top-scoring for the tourists for the second time in the match after his first innings 117.
However, he merely delayed the inevitable and this loss extended West Indies’ winless run in England to 16 Tests, with 14 defeats and two draws. West Indies were all out for 165 in their second innings shortly after lunch.
Mna-of-the-Match, Tim Bresnan, took four wickets for 37 runs in 17 overs for a Test-best match haul of eight for 141, while James Anderson was close behind his fellow paceman with a second innings return of four for 43 in 20,1 overs.
This victory meant Bresnan, who made a useful 39 not out in England’s first innings, had been on the winning side in all his 13 Tests.
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“Tim Bresnan was fantastic,” said Strauss. “He showed what a good contributor he is for the side in both innings, and he chipped in with the bat as well.”
Bresnan added: “It’s quite difficult at times when you’ve got a soft ball and a flat pitch but that’s when you’ve got to step up and do it.
“Consistency is my major weapon and to keep banging in that length.”
Considering West Indies resumed on their overnight 61 for six, their second innings total represented a considerable recovery.
“We’ve really got to consider how we go about playing Test cricket, something has got to be done,” said West Indies captain Darren Sammy, who made a maiden Test hundred in the first innings.
“We just have to be more focused and put a higher price on our wickets. We’ve been lacking top order runs for a while and it has set us back.” The third Test at Edgbaston starts on June 7.
