Hooper, Lambert spur WI

ST. JOHN'S ANTIGUA, March 23: Carl Hooper completed his ninth Test hundred today as the West Indies declared their first innings after gai...

ST. JOHN8217;S ANTIGUA, March 23: Carl Hooper completed his ninth Test hundred today as the West Indies declared their first innings after gaining a lead of 373 8212; on the fourth day of the sixth and final Test.

Hooper was 108 not out when the West Indies left England with almost five-and-a-half sessions to survive.

A declaration was expected around lunchtime but skipper Brian Lara brought the innings to an end once Curtly Ambrose had smashed Angus Fraser over the long-on boundary for six to bring up the 500.

England no longer have any hope of winning to square this series 2-2 but they can still save the match. Skipper Mike Atherton 13 not out and Alec Stewart 23 took the tourists to 39 for no wicket in their second innings by lunch.

Defeat and a final 3-1 series scoreline might signal the end to Atherton8217;s four-and-a-half years as England captain.

Dean Headley had Junior Murray caught at mid-off for four and Andy Caddick had Franklyn Rose lbw for two with a delivery which kept low.

Hooper, on 85in the West Indies overnight 451 for five, then cruised to his hundred with two pulls for four off Headley.

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Ambrose then arrived to lend support, hitting Caddick back over his head for four and reaching 19 with a stunning six off Fraser.

Yesterday, opener Clayton Lambert hit his maiden century as West Indies8217; batsmen went on teh rampage against England by the close of the third day of the sixth and final Cable and Wireless cricket Test here yesterday.

Resuming on 126 without loss, the West Indies stretched their lead to 324 with typically entertaining strokeplay.

Lambert, 46 overnight, shared successive century stands with the more aggressive Philo Wallace and captain Brian Lara to build a sound platform for the innings.

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Wallace fell eight short of his first Test century, while Lara was out for 89 when in sight of his 11th.

Lambert, the 36-year-old Guyanese, took advantage of four dropped chances to pass three figures a half-hour before tea. The milestone came in 345 minutes, spanned 220 balls andincluded 10 fours and a six.

SCOREBOARD

England 1st innings: 127.

West Indies 1st innings: Clayton Lambert c Thorpe b Ramprakash 104, Philo Wallace b Headley 92, Brian Lara c Stewart b Caddick 89, Shivnarine Chanderpaul lbw Fraser 5, Carl Hooper batting 85, Roland Holder c and b Caddick 45. Extras lb 14, nb 17: 31. Total: for five wickets 451.

Bowling: Caddick 19.5-0-89-2, Fraser 20-3-80-1, Headley 24-3-94-1 nb 13, Tufnell 34-6-93-0 nb 4, Ramprakash 19-0-81-1.