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Results Based News

England coast to easy win

Author: Rose Young
Date: 09/05/2009

England completed a straightforward ten-wicket victory against West Indies at Lord's to win the first Test inside three days and ensure they remain strong betting favourites for the series.

A 143-run partnership for the sixth wicket between Brendan Nash (81) and Denesh Ramdin (61) held England up in the afternoon session but, after Stuart Broad bowled Ramdin just before tea, the tourists capitulated.

Resuming on 39-2 after an hour's delay, West Indies at first seemed determined to atone for their disastrous first-innings performance when they were dismissed for 152 before being asked to follow-on.

However, after adding 48 runs for the third wicket, Lendl Simmons (21) was superbly caught by Alastair Cook off the bowling of Graham Onions, a prelude to a disastrous spell for the tourists just before lunch.

Devon Smith (41) had his middle stump uprooted by the impressive Onions before Graeme Swann had Shivnarine Chanderpaul (4) caught by Ravi Bopara at silly point.

After losing three quick wickets for nine runs, the tourists were 80-5 at lunch but, thanks to Nash and Ramdin, they had drawn level with England's first-innings total of 377 by tea.

However, they lost their last five wickets for 34 runs, leaving Andrew Strauss and Cook to reach the meagre target before the close of play.

In the Football League play-offs, Preston North End and Sheffield United's Championship semi-final first leg ended 1-1 at Deepdale.

Sean St Ledger's first-half volley had opened the scoring for Preston, but Brian Howard's equaliser just after half-time could prove to be a pivotal moment in the tie.

In League One, both Scunthorpe United and Mk Dons still have hopes of Wembley after their semi-final remains tantalisingly poised at 1-1 following Friday's first leg at Glanford Park.

Scunthorpe drew first blood when winger Martyn Woolford found the net after a shot from Paul Hayes had been only half blocked by goalkeeper Willy Gueret.

But the Dons forced their way back on to level terms with their first real effort of the game when striker Aaron Wilbraham squeezed a close-range header into the roof of the net.

Williams dominated the second practice session for Sunday's Formula One Spanish Grand Prix with Nico Rosberg setting the fastest time, marginally quicker than team-mate Kazuki Nakajima.

Jenson Button, who was fastest in the morning session, had to settle for sixth spot in the afternoon, two places behind his Brawn team-mate Rubens Barrichello.

BMW Sauber duo Robert Kubica and Nick Heidfeld, who were third and fourth fastest in the first session, were back in 16th and 17th in the afternoon, with only Timo Glock, Jarno Trulli and Adrian Sutil posting slower times.

Fernando Alonso impressed, finishing third in his Renault, while Red Bull's Mark Webber split the two Brawn cars in fifth.

After Button, Sebastian Vettel, Nelson Piquet, Sebastian Buemi and Kimi Raikkonen completed the top ten.

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