England cruise to series-clinching win (From Gazette Series)

England cruise to series-clinching win

4:59pm Monday 28th May 2012 in National Sport © Press Association 2013

England coasted to a series-clinching nine-wicket win in the second Investec Test against the West Indies, wrapping up victory on the fourth evening at Trent Bridge.

Chasing 108 to win, captain Andrew Strauss (45) and Alastair Cook (43 not out) sealed a result - and an unassailable 2-0 lead with one game to play - that was all but assured by Sunday night's bowling exploits.

Marlon Samuels, following on from his first-innings century, at least succeeded in frustrating England with 76 not out in his side's 165 all out - a significant improvement on their overnight position of 61 for six.

The day summed up the West Indies' exploits in this game and the tour as a whole: a period of defiance against the odds followed by England asserting their dominance at the decisive moments.

Tim Bresnan and James Anderson both finished with four wickets in the second innings, while Strauss took his series tally to 309 runs in four knocks.

Cook and Jonathan Trott (17no) completed the job for the hosts, the latter winning it with four to fine-leg.

"You always like to be a bit more clinical than you have been," Strauss told Sky Sports 1. "We've had match-winning positions where we could have really finished the games earlier than we have.

"But being made to work hard, it makes it feel pretty good when you actually get over the line.

"We had that great session last night that put us in a very strong position to win today, but we still had to go out and work hard to take those final wickets and knock off the runs."