WI fail to avert the inevitable

Before 3,000 English fans, Vaughan lifted the Wisden Trophy his side had retained after winning the second Test in Trinidad. The third-Test victory in Barbados secured England’s first series victory in the Caribbean since 1968, and the draw made sure England completed only the second 3-0 win on West Indies soil, after the 1955 Australian side.

Lara’s record 400 not out propped up the West Indies’ 751-5 declared, and after England was bowled out for 285, Lara enforced the follow-on, but fell five wickets short of a consolation win.

Vaughan, 61 overnight, lashed 20 boundaries off 268 balls in almost six hours in posting his 11th Test century in his 45th match. Marcus Trescothick (88) just missed out on a ton of his own, and there were half-centuries for Mark Butcher (61) and Nasser Hussain (56).

When England lost three wickets for 42 runs to the part-time spinners in the final session, the home team sniffed an unlikely win.

Brief scores

751/5 decl vs England 285 and 422/5 (M Vaughan 140, M Trescothick 88, M Butcher 61, N Hussain 56, R Hinds 2/83, R Sarwan 2/26).