PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, 24 March 2004 — England completed a seven wicket win over the West Indies in the second Test here yesterday to go 2-0 up in the four Test series.

Resuming the final day needing 28 to win, England lost a wicket second ball when Nasser Hussain edged Adam Sanford behind for five.

New batsman Graham Thorpe almost fell to the third delivery but Ridley Jacobs was unable to hold onto a low edge to his left.

Mark Butcher then hit the winning runs in the fifth over to finish 47 not out with England on 99 for three. England won the first Test in Jamaica by 10 wickets.

The win means that England have avoided a series defeat in the Caribbean for the first time since 1968. And they retained the Wisden Trophy which they took with a 3-1 win at home in 2000.

England captain Michael Vaughan said he was delighted to have retained the Wisden Trophy but said that the series had still to be won. “An outstanding individual performance from Steve Harmison got us in the game and way we fought hard on that second day when we lost two of our wickets was tremendous.

“It was a real team effort. Everyone contributed and we are delighted to be 2-0 up. They have been two tough test matches and it quite easily could have been the other way around.”

The two remaining Tests are in Barbados and Antigua.

The loss was bitter for the West Indies and resulted in the immediate resignation of team manager Ricky Skerritt.

Skipper Brian Lara, however, said it was not the time to press the panic button.

“We are getting good starts, and all of a sudden we are losing wickets that would cost any team,” he said.

“Either we are batting good and bowling bad or the opposite, and you have to put it all together.

“We need to improve in all aspects of our game. But we have to have faith in the guys we have selected and we need to get the runs on the board.”

Meanwhile, the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) said Skerritt had told them of his decision after the first Test, when the board made a public apology for the team’s performance after losing by 10 wickets.

Skerritt, who was enraged by reports that some of his players joined a party after that defeat, wrote in his letter of resignation: “Events following the first test match in Jamaica have led me to review my role.

“I regret that, despite my best efforts, I have been unable to instill in the entire team the fullest understanding of their obligations on and off the field to the people of the West Indies.”

Skerritt, who took over as team manager on March 1, 2000, will leave the post at the end of June.

The West Indies team had apologized for its “shocking performance” in the first test defeat in Kingston when they were dismissed for a record low of 47 in their second innings.

“The team further apologizes for the inappropriate conduct of four members of the team who were seen in a party stand at Sabina Park following the loss,” a WICB statement said.

Skerritt said at the time: “I am disgusted at the thoughtlessness and shamelessness displayed by these players following such an horrific performance.”

Lara said: “He (Skerritt) said it was nothing to do with the players or the team and I think the guys are appreciative that someone has stood up. We wish him well.”