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03-Mar-2009 06:57:00 GMT
England in West Indies, 2008/09, 4th Test, 5th Day

Alastair Cook Ton Guide England to Draw

Bridgetown: Alastair Cook converted his first Test century for 14 months into a career-best unbeaten 139, and KP massaged his average with an 72 not out, as England overcame some early uncertainty to push the fourth Test at Bridgetown to the deathliest of stalemates.

The result means West Indies head into Friday's final Test in Port of Spain, Trinidad, 1-0 up and knowing they cannot be beaten in the series - the first time they have avoided defeat in a Test series against England since 1998.

From the lunch break onwards, the game consisted of little more than televised batting practice for Cook, whose unbeaten 139 was his highest Test score and Kevin Pietersen (72 not out) - the pair making a 150 run partnership.

A flat, placid batting wicket resulted in first innings totals of 600 for England and 749 for West Indies and with little sign of deterioration on the final day, the game petered out into a draw.

Until last week there had never been a Test featuring scores of over 600 and 700 and there have now been two after Pakistan and Sri Lanka produced a similar result in Karachi - and those drawn Tests will re-open the debate on whether wickets are now overly friendly for batsmen.

Resuming, 143 runs behind West Indies, England's opening pair of Andrew Strauss and Cook confidently put on 88 for the first wicket.

Skipper Strauss fell for 38 to his counterpart Chris Gayle - chopping an attempted cut onto his own wicket. After lunch Owais Shah went for 21, lbw to Benn after being struck plumb on the toe but Cook and Pietersen put on a 104 run partnership before tea as the result became inevitable.

West Indies have named an unchanged squad for the final Test at Queen's Park while England will ponder a few options, particularly to their bowling attack.

Ramnaresh Sarwan has been named Man of the Match for his epic innings of 291.

Brief Score: England 600/6d (Strauss 142) and 279/2 (Cook 139*, Pietersen 72*) drew with West Indies 749/9d (Sarwan 291, Ramdin 166).


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