Cricket: England fall to the might of Haynes: Fourth one-day international: Captain's gamble misfires as a veteran opener sets up series victory

IN A bid to stem the domino effect of recent losses, England rang the changes here yesterday, but the introduction of Caddick, Ramprakash and Salisbury failed to save this one- day series. In a match shortened by rain, the West Indies won by virtue of a faster run rate to take a 3-1 lead into today's final game of the series.

A late flurry from Mark Ramprakash gave England some hope as they fell seriously behind the clock, but when he was bowled by Curtly Ambrose for 31 with his side still needing 32 runs from 15 balls, it was a vain chase and England finished 16 runs short of their target of 209 in 36 overs.

Following on from Wednesday's shameful defeat in St Vincent - where Keith Fletcher admitted England's mistake at bowling first - Michael Atherton's decision to insert the West Indies was made to look foolhardy by Desmond Haynes, who scored his 17th one-day century in 102 balls in a superb display of aggression.

Amazingly, it was Haynes's first hundred for 70 limited- overs games and the delight with which he punched the air showed he thought it had been far too long a wait. A slice of luck came early on when Graeme Hick put down a difficult chance at second slip, but the veteran opener showed that age has not withered his appetite or his ability.

He was particularly severe on the spin of Ian Salisbury and Hick, who gave away 91 runs in a total of 13 overs bowled. With Caddick almost as expensive, memories of last Wednesday's nightmare came flooding back, and only Fraser finished the innings with any kind of credibility. When he removed the local hero Brian Lara and Keith Arthurton in the space of three balls, the West Indies were in some discomfort at 75 for 3.

When Richie Richardson holed out to Ramprakash at deep backward square - the shovelled hook seemingly a feature of the home captain's game these days - England should have started to dominate proceedings. Instead, the arrival of Jimmy Adams thwarted Atherton again.

The England captain was unfortunate - Alan Igglesden having gone off after only six overs with sunstroke - that he was forced at this stage to bowl Hick, who was too wayward and failed to show the control the situation demanded. Haynes took full advantage, and he and Adams put on 124 for the fifth wicket.

With rain initially shortening the match to 47 overs per side, the West Indies (having lost Adams for 40 just before the showers arrived), came out swinging with murderous intent. Having been savaged last week, Lewis finally got his yorker working and Haynes tamely dragged one on with just three overs to go. Rain was falling heavily when Harper swung wildly and he too was bowled by Lewis.

As England set off in pursuit, Cummins and Ken Benjamin both beat the edge as they moved the ball around off a freshened pitch. Atherton and Alec Stewart badly needed another brisk opening partnership but this was not to be and Stewart had his stumps rearranged by a ball from Ken Benjamin that speared between bat and pad .

Robin Smith punched the ball off his legs into gaps while his partner mixed force and fortitude in a 50 partnership. Unfortunately, this progress was cut short when Ken Benjamin returned to the pavilion end. Atherton, having just struck a Cummins slower ball over the head of mid-off, then tried to dab a Benjamin inswinger down to third man and was bowled.

But it was not until Roger Harper replaced Winston Benjamin that the game entered its most critical phase. Harper may not be a Test match spinner but he still has a trick or two for pressure situations like these. Varying his pace and his loop, he knocked the heart out of England's middle order as Smith and Hick followed one another back to the dressing room in the space of two overs.

The portents were not good for England and they received a further blow when Maynard, pressured into using his feet, was yorked playing over the top of a ball that hit off-stump. With Lewis following soon after, holing out to Lara at cow corner, all looked bleak.

Ramprakash staged a recovery that, for a fleeting moment, looked like it might go the whole way. All hope disappeared with his dismissal, however, and with only the tail to deal with, the West Indies ran out comfortable winners.

With his side dispirited and lacking the firepower needed on these pitches, Atherton's only means of retort was to play his leg-spinner, Salisbury. In a one-day match, this was always going to be a gamble and, with no more aces to play, the England captain must wonder where he goes from here.

FOURTH ONE-DAY INTERNATIONAL

(Trinidad)

(England won toss)

WEST INDIES

D L Haynes b Lewis 115 P V Simmons c Hick b Lewis 16 B C Lara lbw b Fraser 19 K L T Arthurton c Stewart b Fraser 0 * R B Richardson c Ramprakash b Caddick 13 J C Adams c Caddick b Fraser 40 R A Harper b Lewis 23 A C Cummins not out 13 W K M Benjamin not out 0 Extras 26 Total (for 7, 45.4 overs) 265

Fall: 1-45 2-75 3-75 4-98 5-222 6-238 7-265.

Did not bat: C E L Ambrose, K C G Benjamin.

Bowling: Igglesden 3-0-16-0; Caddick 10-0- 60-1; Fraser 10-0-31-3; Lewis 9.4-1-59-3; Salisbury 9-0-58-0; Hick 4-0-33-0.

ENGLAND

* M A Atherton b K Benjamin 41 A J Stewart b K Benjamin 2 R A Smith b Harper 45 G A Hick c and b Harper 10 M P Maynard b Harper 8 M R Ramprakash b Ambrose 31 C C Lewis c Lara b Harper 4 A R Caddick not out 20 I D K Salisbury b Cumins 5 A P Igglesden run out 0 A R C Fraser not out 4 Extras (nb2 w11 b1 lb9) 23 Total (for 9, 36 overs) 193

Fall: 1-23 2-86 3-110 4-121 5-130 6-145 7-177 8-184 9-185.

Bowling: K Benjamin 8-0-37-2; Cummins 6- 0-34-1; Ambrose 8-0-34-1; W Benjamin 7-0- 38-0; Harper 7-0-40-4.

Umpires: S Bucknor and C Cumberbatch.

West Indies won on faster scoring rate

(Photograph omitted)