BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, 6 May 2004 — Ramnaresh Sarwan hit a brilliant, unbeaten century to help West Indies set England 262 to win the seventh and final One-Day International yesterday.

After England had restricted the home side to 57 from their first 15 overs, vice-captain Sarwan hit 13 boundaries in his highest one-day score of 104 not out to lift West Indies to 261 for six from their 50 overs.

Put into bat, West Indies lost Shivnarine Chanderpaul for three and Ricardo Powell for nine, both men struggling on a lush outfield against mean opening spells from Darren Gough and Steve Harmison.

Opener Chris Gayle hit a stylish 41 but when captain Brian Lara fell for eight in the 23rd over, West Indies were struggling on 90 for four. Dwayne Smith then hammered 39 from just 35 balls before Sarwan hit his second One-Day International hundred, adding 68 with Ridley Jacobs (32 not out) for the seventh wicket to set England a challenging target.

Blair Says England Cricketers Shouldn’t Go to Zimbabwe

In London, British Prime Minister Tony Blair said yesterday he doesn’t think England’s cricketers should tour Zimbabwe, but added that the decision rests exclusively on the shoulders of international cricket chiefs.

“We would prefer them not to go,” said Blair during his weekly question period in the House of Commons.

But he added: “There is a difference between doing that and ordering them not to go which I think would step over the proper line.”

He recalled that his foreign secretary Jack Straw would be meeting the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) today to discuss the dilemma.

He added: “I think many people believe, I think rightly, that the problem actually resides with the ICC,” the International Cricket Council, the sport’s world governing body.

The ECB believes that current British government advice vis a vis Zimbabwe — where President Robert Mugabe’s regime stands accused of human rights abuses — justifies canceling the forthcoming winter tour. But it faces a two million pound fine and a one-year suspension if they cancel the tour without the British government specifically telling them not to travel.

Astle Stars for Kiwis in English Gloom

Nathan Astle confirmed that his recovery from a potentially career-threatening knee injury is firmly back on track with an unbeaten 64 as New Zealand’s tour game against British Universities petered out into a rain-sodden draw yesterday. Astle hit 11 fours in his team’s total of 128 for three at Fenners where the first two days had been washed out.

The innings was a rare bright spot for the Black Caps ahead of the first Test against England at Lord’s on May 20.

Astle was at the crease for the first time since returning home from last year’s tour of India for surgery on his right knee, having previously undergone an operation on the left one.

“Nathan is such a natural ball-striker that he can come back and hit the ball so well,” said New Zealand team manager Lindsay Crocker.

“The problem is one of lateral movement when he has to turn for another run or is in the field but so far things seem to be going well and hopefully the surgery will lengthen his career.” Start of play yesterday was brought forward by 45 minutes to help the tourists get as much match practice as possible.

Opener Michael Papps was trapped lbw for a duck off the first ball he faced — and just the fifth of the match — by David Wigley with just one run on the board.