England too strong for West Indies as home side clinch Test series win

England are eying up another home series whitewash after comfortably wrapping up the second Test against the West Indies with a day to spare at Trent Bridge.

Having reduced the Windies to a pathetic 61 for six the night before, the hosts were set the simple target of 108 after the tourists were skittled for 165 in the second innings.

Captain Andrew Strauss (45) and Alastair Cook (43 not out) took England near the finishing line soon after tea before Jonathan Trott (17 not out) came in to help complete the nine-wicket victory.

And Strauss, who continued his return to form with a second straight Test ton in the first innings, was thrilled to be heading to Edgbaston with the series already in the bag.

“We’re delighted to get over the line,” he said. “It was quite hard work at times. It’s been a hot, hard four days and there were some really good performances from the lads. You always like to be a bit more clinical, but we did the job in the end.”

For the second straight Test the tourists, for the most part, showed plenty of fight but were left to rue one dismal session from their batsmen that effectively handed the match to their rivals.

And skipper Darren Sammy admitted they’re almost certain to be swept should they fail to sort out their woes at the top of the order.

“We’ve really got to consider how we go about playing Test cricket, something has got to be done,” he said. “We just have to be more focused and put a higher price on our wickets.”

That England were chasing a three-figure target was largely down to Marlon Samuels, who was left stranded on 76. It was another fine knock by Samuels, who also top scored in the first innings with 117, but, Sammy apart, he laboured virtually alone.

Their lead could’ve been more had his captain hung around longer after he and Samuels (pictured) kept the hosts at bay for the first hour of the day. Following the nightmare final session on Sunday, the pair suffered few alarms early on and seemed to be growing in confidence until Sammy was given out LBW to all-rounder Tim Bresnan (four for 37) in the first over after the drinks break.

Sammy (25) referred umpire Aleem Dar’s decision but replays showed the ball was going on to hit the top of the stumps, ending a stand of 49 - and the Windies’ hopes of posting a respectable total.

Bresnan was named man of the match after finishing with Test-best figures eight for 141, and he added: “Consistency is my major weapon and to keep banging in that length.

“I’m a lot thinner now too. You don’t get through 100 overs in two weeks without being reasonably fit.”