LONDON, 22 August 2004 — England hammered West Indies by 10 wickets inside three days to win the fourth Test at the Oval yesterday, claiming a 4-0 series whitewash and a record-equaling seventh consecutive test win.
The touring side were bowled out for 318 following on with pace bowler James Anderson taking four for 52. England had to bat again but Marcus Trescothick knocked off the one run needed to win with a four.
They have now equaled the England record of seven successive test wins set in 1928/29 and have also completed 10 wins out of 11 this year, including the 3-0 victory in the Caribbean in April. That betters the nine out of 10 wins recorded by Mike Brearley’s side in 1978/79.
Dwayne Bravo and Shivnarine Chanderpaul had earlier frustrated England with an 82-run fifth wicket stand to slow their quest for a second series clean sweep after the 3-0 rout of New Zealand in May and June.
Bravo made 54, the second half century in his first Test series, before Matthew Hoggard trapped him lbw the first ball after the drinks break. Chanderpaul (32) fell just before tea, spinner Ashley Giles finding a faint edge behind.
Dwayne Smith was carrying a shoulder injury but wielded his bat freely before cutting Andrew Flintoff to Anderson at point for 28.
Anderson, who had taken only three wickets in the previous two Tests, removed Brian Lara (15) and opener Chris Gayle, for a whirlwind 105, before lunch.
They resumed on 84 for two but Lara fell after 35 minutes of the morning session, edging a full delivery to Trescothick, who took a low catch at first slip.
The 35-year-old Lara was warmly applauded as he left the field after what was almost certainly his final Test innings in England. West Indies are not scheduled to tour here again until 2010.
Gayle, 59 not out overnight, raced to his sixth Test century and first against England off just 80 balls. Producing several flourishing strokes, he smashed 17 fours and a six before celebrating his hundred by punching the air.
However, Gayle departed soon after, edging Anderson to man-of-the-series Andrew Flintoff, who made another fine low catch in the slips.
