Newz Forum: OTHER: England demolish the West Indies

England paceman Steve Harmison produced a stunning display of fast bowling at Sabina Park to claim seven West Indies wickets in only 11 overs on Sunday and complete an emphatic 10-wicket victory in the opening Test.The Durham fast bowler claimed seven wickets for 12 runs as West Indies, beginning the fourth day 20 runs behind on eight without loss, were dismissed for only 47 - the lowest total in their proud Test history.

England wrapped up an unbelievable win before lunch to lead the series 1-0.Michael Vaughan and Marcus Trescothick had an easy job of hitting the 20 runs needed for victory. West Indies had started the day on eight without loss but they were still 20 runs behind England's first innings score.Harmison's stunning display began in the fourth over of the morning when he dismissed dangerous strokemaker Chris Gayle as part of a haul of three wickets for one run in 14 balls which left West Indies reeling on 21 for five.


It was a stunning display by Harmison and eclipsed the West Indies' lowest previous total of 51 recorded against Australia at Trinidad in 1999 and puts the tourists 1-0 up in a four-Test series as they attempt to become the first England side to register a series triumph in the Caribbean since 1968.The display also emphatically answered critics who claimed Harmison did not have the necessary toughness to survive in Test cricket after he flew home from the tour to Bangladesh in October.While England plunged to defeat in Sri Lanka, Harmison improved his fitness by training with his beloved Newcastle United several times and he has now taken 22 wickets in three Tests stretching back to the final Test victory over South Africa at the Oval in September.




West Indies captain Brian Lara said there was no excuse for his side's inept batting performance in the second innings, as they lost by 10 wickets. There was huge celebrations among the England fans but stunned silence from the home crowd, who had come to the ground on Saturday expecting something rather different.


West Indies: B Lara (capt), C Gayle, Devon Smith, S Chanderpaul, R Hinds, R Sarwan, R Jacobs (wkt), A Sanford, T Best, C Collymore, F Edwards.

England: M Vaughan (capt), M Trescothick, M Butcher, N Hussain, G Thorpe, A Flintoff, C Read (wkt), A Giles, S Jones, M Hoggard, S Harmison.

Umpires: B Bowden (NZ) & D Harper (Aus).

Match referee: M Procter (SA)