Robert Key and Andrew Flintoff hit unbeaten half centuries as England recovered against the West Indies on the fifth and final day on Monday to win by seven wickets.
Key anchored the 231-run second-innings chase with an unbeaten 93 as the home team reached their target with 27,2 overs left in the final session.
England lead the four-match series 3-0, have won six Tests in a row and nine of 10. The fourth test begins on Thursday at the Oval.
”The lads played exceptionally well, and Key was fantastic,” said England batsman Graham Thorpe, named man of the match following his century in the first innings.
Key, who survived a chance when at 57, stroked nine boundaries off 178 deliveries in four-and-a-quarter hours.
Flintoff, playing in front of 14 000 fans on his home ground, passed 50 for the seventh straight Test thanks to five fours and two sixes. His unbeaten 57 spanned 92 balls and 108 minutes.
Captain Michael Vaughan contributed 33 as he and Key lifted England from 27 for two. Key and Flintoff then had an unbroken stand of 120 for the fourth wicket.
”We knew that one player had to get in and see us home and Rob Key did that fantastically well,” Vaughan said.
”We have to give the West Indies credit for how they played in this Test. They put us under a lot of pressure, and to be honest, we didn’t play that well.”
The result looked in doubt when Corey Collymore and Pedro Collins lifted the West Indies by quickly removing both England openers.
Collymore’s inswinger bowled Marcus Trescothick between bat and pad at 15 for one. Left-armer Collins then induced Andrew Strauss to play an ugly pull that ended up in the hands of Shivnarine Chanderpaul at 27 for two.
Key and Vaughan lunched at 56 for two and stretched their partnership to 84 in a second session shortened because of a 35-minute rain delay.
Just when England were threatening to dominate, off-spinner Chris Gayle struck with a first delivery to remove Vaughan.
The Yorkshireman got a ball that bounced awkwardly and deflected a catch to his opposite number, Brian Lara, at slip.
But Key and Flintoff were not retired.
”The last two days we showed a lot of fight and spirit to come back and bowl them out the way we did [Sunday], and to fight the runs down today is great to see,” Vaughan said.
In the first over after tea, Collymore nearly brought the visitors back, but Key’s edge was floored low at second slip by Sylvester Joseph.
Key and Flintoff were then soon hitting boundaries with crisp strokes.
Flintoff brought up his half century and notched the century stand with his first six, a stroke that sailed over long-on.
The end came in a hurry, with Flintoff adding another big six before hitting the winning runs.
In the morning session, Steve Harmison closed out the West Indies’ second innings in the space of 12 deliveries.
The visitors, at 161 for nine overnight, were bowled out for 165 when last-man Fidel Edwards fended a nasty lifter to second slip.
Harmison, who on Sunday became the first man to reach 50 wickets in 2004, finished with four for 44.
Thorpe is questionable for the final Test because of a fractured right finger. — Sapa-AP