THE WEST INDIES ended a streak of 10 straight away Test defeats with a sensational victory over England inside three days at Edgbaston yesterday.The win gave the West Indies an early 1-0 lead in the five Test cricket series.
The hosts, chasing a target of 219 to make the West Indies bat again, were bundled out for 125 in their second innings to lose by a whopping innings and 94 runs.
The victory was never in doubt after captain Jimmy Adams, who was last out for a well-played 98 runs, guided his side to 397 to give them the sizeable first innings lead.
England capitulated quickly through a combination of Courtney Walsh wrecking the top order and some inept batting. Walsh, who finished with bowling figures of eight wickets for 58 runs, was named man-of-the-match.
"It was a very good all-round performance," said Adams, who claimed the final two wickets of the match.
"I think special credit has to be paid Courtney's first innings performance," Adams added. Of finally snapping the away losing streak, Adams said: "It's been a while so we are going to celebrate."
Before yesterday's triumph, the West Indies had not won a Test away from home since the fifth Test in Perth, Australia, in 1997. They had endured a 5-0 drubbing in South Africa, a 3-0 whitewash in Pakistan and a 2-0 sweep in New Zealand.
