Windies canter to five-wicket victory

ARNOS VALE ST. VINCENT, April 5: Carl Hooper's even 50 and economical off-spin bowling helped guide the West Indies to a comfortable five-...

ARNOS VALE ST. VINCENT, April 5: Carl Hooper8217;s even 50 and economical off-spin bowling helped guide the West Indies to a comfortable five-wicket victory over England in the third One-Day Cricket International yesterday. Vice-captain Hooper followed up his one for 30 off 10 overs with a composed half century to see the West Indies past England modest 209 for eight. The home team reached 213 for five with 11 balls to spare. Hooper8217;s 50 came off 72 balls with two fours and a six before he was run out.

All the batsmen supported the winning effort. The veterans Keith Arthurton and Phil Simmons sealed the victory with a measured, unbroken partnership of 40 off 37 balls.

Arthurton, the 33-year-old in his first match since a dismal 1996 World Cup in India and Pakistan, ended 35 not out off 47 balls with two fours. Simmons, 34, lashed a confident 23 off 24 balls, his fourth boundary wrapping up the match.

Earlier, Clayton Lambert 22, Philo Wallace 33 and Brian Lara 21 had set the platform. Off-spinnerRobert Croft was the best of the England bowlers with one for 18 off 10 overs.

Earlier, England8217;s innings never got the spark it needed after the early loss of in-form left-hander Nick Knight. Opener Knight, man of the match in both matches in Barbados with scores of 122 and 90, made just 15 before he lofted Curtly Ambrose to wide mid-off where Philo Wallace held a excellent running catch.

West Indies captain Brian Lara used his slower bowlers to good effect and England could not break the strangehold. Even with ace fast bowler Ambrose nursing a sore back in the pavilion, the visitors struggled to lift the scoring rate.

SCOREBOARD

England: Nick Knight c Wallace b Ambrose 15, Alec Stewart c Arthurton b Simmons 33, Ben Hollioake c Wallace b Simmons 35, Graeme Hick c Williams b Arthurton 45, Mark Ramprakash b Hooper 1, Adam Hollioake b Lewis 31, Mark Ealham st Jacobs b Lewis 23, Matthew Fleming c Williams b Arthurton 7, Dougie Brown not out 2, Robert Croft not out 1. Extras: lb 7, w 6, nb 3 16.Total: for eight wickets in 50 overs 209.

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Fall of wickets: 1-26, 2-84, 3-90, 4-91, 5-166, 6-184, 7-195, 8-208.

Bowling: Ambrose 5-0-12-1, McLean 7-0-33-0, Lewis 10-0-51-2 nb 3, w 1, Simmons 10-0-45-2 w 3, Hooper 10-2-30-1 w 1, Arthurton 8-0-31-2 w 1.West Indies: Clayton Lambert c Stewart b Fraser 22, Philo Wallace b Fleming 33, Brian Lara c Adam Hollioake b Ealham 21, Carl Hooper run out 50, Stuart Williams c Knight b Croft 4, Keith Arthurton not out 35, Phil Simmons not out 23. Extras: b1, lb16, w7, nb1 25. Total: for 5 wickets in 48.1 overs 213.

Fall of wickets: 1-33, 2-71, 3-112, 4-125, 5-173.

Bowling: Brown 5-0-32-0 w4, Fraser 10-2-35-1 w1, nb1, Ealham 7.1-0-41-1, Croft 10-3-18-1, Fleming 9-0-30-1 w1, Adam Hollioake 5-0-27-0, Hick 2-0-13-0 w1.

Windies lead series 2-1

Man of the match: Carl Hooper