England was initially determined to end a 36-year drought of cricket series wins in the Caribbean. Now it could capture a greater prize: A first ever 4-0 series sweep on West Indies turf.
History beckons England, even though it hasn't clinched the current series after winning the second test by seven wickets on the fifth morning Tuesday.
England successfully retained the Wisden Trophy for the first time since 1969 by winning two tests in the Caribbean for the first time in 50 years, and taking an unbeatable 2-0 lead in the four-test series, which resumes in Barbados on April 1.
PHOTO: REUTERS
But the manner of England's two humiliating victories -- only rain prevented another win inside four days at Port-of-Spain -- and the disarray within the home squad hinted by the resignation of manager Ricky Skerritt, suggest England can confidently pursue an unprecedented series whitewash in Barbados and Antigua.
Australia almost achieved it last May, and it took a world-record 418-run second innings by the West Indies in Antigua to thwart the Aussies' ambitions.
England captain Michael Vaughan played down the rising expectations in his England side.
"We've still got two games to go but we're in a fantastic position," Vaughan said.
"I know we're 2-0 up but it could quite easily have been the other way around. The West Indies got on top of us in Jamaica and we came through tough periods. They got on top of us here again in Trinidad and we came through those tough periods. It's been hard work."
England embarrassed the West Indies by 10 wickets in Jamaica, and humbled the former Calypso Kings again in captain Brian Lara's hometown. The West Indies was bowled out for 208 and 209, and England made 319 and 99 for three at Queen's Park Oval.
England needed only 28 runs on the final day, and though former captain Nasser Hussain fell for 5 to the day's second ball, victory was achieved in five overs thanks to a 45-ball 46 by Mark Butcher and Graham Thorpe's 13.
England fast bowler Steve Harmison was named man of the match for taking 6-61 in the first innings, and claiming Lara again in the second innings for 8.
Lara said he was disappointed with the way his team has been unable to string together consistent performances.
"That has been our problem with our game over the last few months," Lara said. "Either we're batting good and not bowling well or the opposite. We need to improve in all areas of our game."
He said the middle-order batting, which includes himself, has been letting the team down.
Australia versus Sri Lanka
Chaminda Vaas and Thilan Samaraweera took a wicket apiece yesterday and Australia reached lunch at 96 for two on the opening day of the third cricket test against Sri Lanka.
Ricky Ponting, who won the toss and elected to bat as Australia chases an unprecedented 3-0 series sweep in Sri Lanka, was batting on 34 and Damien Martyn was unbeaten on 14 at the interval.
The Sri Lankan bowling attack had been reduced to one paceman after 40 minutes when Nuwan Zoysa hobbled off following the third ball of his fourth over with a sprained left foot.
In 3.3 overs, he'd conceded 23 runs. Zoysa had returned for his first test in almost two years at Kandy last week, taking four wickets in Australia's first innings. Sri Lankan officials said Zoysa was undergoing medical tests but the injury wasn't expected to be serious.
The Australians lost both openers soon after Zoysa's departure.
Justin Langer (19) miscued a pull shot off Vaas in the ninth over and lobbed a simple catch to Tillakaratne Dilshan at mid-wicket with the total at 43.
Samaraweera got an opportunity when Matthew Hayden spooned a simple catch to substitute fielder Upul Chandana at mid-on as Australia slipped to 60 for two.
Bologna on Thursday advanced past Empoli to reach their first Coppa Italia final in more than half a century. Thijs Dallinga’s 87th-minute header earned Bologna a 2-1 win and his side advanced 5-1 on aggregate. Giovanni Fabbian opened the scoring for Bologna with a header seven minutes in. Then Viktor Kovalenko equalized for Empoli in the 30th minute by turning in a rebound to finish off a counterattack. Bologna won the first leg 3-0. In the May 14 final in Rome, Bologna are to face AC Milan, who eliminated city rivals Inter 4-1 on aggregate following a 3-0 win on Wednesday. Bologna last reached the
If the Wild finally break through and win their first playoff series in a decade, Minnesota’s top line likely will be the reason. They were all over the Golden Knights through the first two games of their NHL Western Conference quarter-finals series, which was 1-1 going back to Minnesota for Game 3 today. The Wild tied the series with a 5-2 win on Tuesday. Matt Boldy had three goals and an assist in the first two games, while Kirill Kaprizov produced two goals and three assists. Joel Eriksson Ek, who centers the line, has yet to get on the scoresheet. “I think the biggest
From a commemorative jersey to a stadium in his name, Argentine soccer organizers are planning a slew of tributes to their late “Captain” Pope Francis, eulogized as the ultimate team player. Tributes to the Argentine pontiff, a lifelong lover of the game, who died on Monday at the age of 88, have been peppered with soccer metaphors in his homeland. “Francisco. What a player,” the Argentine Football Federation (AFA) said, describing the first pope from Latin America and the southern hemisphere as a generational talent who “never hogged the ball” and who showed the world “the importance of having an Argentine captain,
Noelvi Marte on Sunday had seven RBIs and hit his first career grand slam with a drive off infielder Jorge Mateo, while Austin Wynn had a career-high six RBIs as the Cincinnati Reds scored their most runs in 26 years in a 24-2 rout of the Baltimore Orioles. Marte finished with five hits, including his eighth-inning homer off Mateo. Wynn hit a three-run homer in the ninth off catcher Gary Sanchez. Cincinnati scored its most runs since a 24-12 win against the Colorado Rockies on May 19, 1999, and finished with 25 hits. Baltimore allowed its most runs since a 30-3 loss to
RSS