England complete emphatic win

Ryan Sidebottom picked up eight wickets on his return to the Test arena at Headingley

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England took a 1-0 lead in the best of four npower series against West Indies after wrapping up the second Test at Headingley Carnegie on a rain-affected day four.

The Windies suffered their heaviest defeat in Test history, by an innings and 283 runs, as Ryan Sidebottom matched his four-wicket haul in the first innings. Steve Harmison polished off the tail to finish with 3-37.

Dwayne Bravo offered the only meaningful resistance for the tourists in chilly Yorkshire conditions but he was eighth out for 52 when he chipped a Monty Panesar delivery to Liam Plunkett at mid-off.

In a 15 minute morning session, which began on time after no play had been possible on Sunday, Plunkett dismissed Chris Gayle in the third over before the weather interrupted play.

Devon Smith played a sumptuous cover drive for four to his first delivery, against Sidebottom, as the bowler pitched the ball up looking for late swing.

Plunkett then had the dangerous Gayle caught behind for 13 with a delivery which nipped away off a good length. Matt Prior took a diving catch from Plunkett’s delivery from over the wicket to the left-handed batsman.

However, a heavy shower forced the players from the field with the visitors on 31 for three. With no further play possible in the morning session, lunch was taken early, but play did not resume until 2pm.

Liam Plunkett rejoices after dismissing Chris Gayle early on Monday © Getty Images

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Ryan Sidebottom wasted no time, picking up two wickets in a 25 minute phase of play, on his way to figures of 4-44.

Sylvester Joseph was Sidebottom’s third victim of the innings when he was lbw for one in the left-armer’s second over after the break.

Devon Smith followed in the bowler’s next over, caught at the second attempt for 16 by Andrew Strauss standing at first slip. However, another sharp shower forced the players off the field before new batsman Bravo could face a ball.

In the longest session of play, which began at 2.50pm lasting for 80 minutes, Harmison picked up the wicket of Runako Morton after a partnership of 63 with Bravo for the sixth wicket.

England’s bowlers had continued to be economical and beaten the pair’s outside edges at regular intervals but could not get the breakthrough they wanted until the Durham paceman struck.

Morton was caught by wicket-keeper Prior for 25 after top-edging a Harmison bouncer high into the air. Prior took a comfortable catch running forward towards the striker’s stumps.

The Windies went to tea shortly after on 137 for six with Bravo 50 not out and wicket-keeper Denesh Ramdin unbeaten on three.

England did not need long after the break to finish their opponents off. Harmison trapped Ramdin lbw for five before Bravo fell to Panesar.

Steve Harmison celebrates the final wicket of Jerome Taylor

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Jerome Taylor was the last wicket to fall, second ball to Harmison for nought, after he played the ball onto his stumps attempting an ambitious hook shot.

England only had to take nine second innings wickets to claim victory as the tourists’ captain Ramnaresh Sarwan did not bat after injuring his collarbone in the field on Friday.

England’s Kevin Pietersen was named man-of-the-match for his career-best 226 but there were concerns over Ian Bell who was unable to field on Monday due to back spasms.

Before play got underway in Leeds both sets of players observing a minute’s silence in tribute to Percy Sonn, the International Cricket Council president, who died on Sunday.