Cricket: Hooper's class denies England

England 209-8 West Indies 213-5 West Indies won by five wickets

ADAM HOLLIOAKE suffered a second successive defeat as England's one- day captain on Saturday as his team went 2-1 down in the five-match series against the West Indies after losing by five wickets in St Vincent.

On a turning pitch England simply did not make enough runs, with four of their top six getting in but then not going on to dominate.

The West Indies had a comparative coast to victory, although it was not confirmed until Phil Simmons lofted Mark Ealham over mid-on from the first delivery of the 49th over.

The classy 50 of the man of the match Carl Hooper followed up some early hitting from Clayton Lambert and Brian Lara before an unbroken stand of 41 between Keith Arthurton and Simmons saw them home.

England fought hard, with Robert Croft putting in a magnificent spell of off-spin bowling in helpful conditions. Only a thick-edged three through a vacant slip area ruined his figures in his final over. Five runs also came from his opening over before Croft put a stranglehold on the West Indian batsmen.

Angus Fraser, bowling 10 overs in a row with the new ball, conceded only 35 runs despite being hit over midwicket for six by both Wallace and Hooper.

But Ealham and Matthew Fleming could only dredge up little pockets of inspiration and skipper Hollioake enjoyed no success with his own bowling. The lack of a second front-line spinner did not help either, although it was surprising that Mark Ramprakash was not given a try.

Ben Hollioake's 43-ball 35 was the highlight of England's innings, and Graeme Hick's international rehabilitation continued with a top score of 45.

Hollioake Jnr, in only his fourth one-day international appearance, began to live up to the huge impression he made when hitting the Australians for 63 off 48 balls at Lord's on his debut last May.

He played some superb strokes, none more so than the mere push against Nixon McLean which sent the ball racing to the boundary.

Hollioake and Alec Stewart gave the innings early impetus with a stand of 58 in 12 overs before inexperience brought Hollioake's downfall.

He had just swung Simmons effortlessly for four but, next ball, tried for something even better. The connection was sweet but the ball sailed high and straight to Philo Wallace stationed on the wide midwicket boundary.

Stewart's 33 was never a fluent effort and, when Mark Ramprakash was bowled for a single trying to cut against the spin, England had slumped to 91 for 4.

Hick and the captain, Hollioake, responded with a partnership worth 75 and Ealham's 24-ball 23 also helped. But the acceleration was never fast enough and England paid for their lack of runs.

Saturday scoreboard

England won toss

ENGLAND

N V Knight c Wallace b Ambrose 15

(27 min, 24 balls, 2 fours)

A J Stewart c Arthurton b Simmons 33

(93 min, 61 balls, 3 fours)

B C Hollioake c Wallace b Simmons 35

(53 min, 43 balls, 3 fours)

G A Hick c Williams b Arthurton 45

(89 min, 85 balls, 1 six)

M R Ramprakash b Hooper 1

(4 min, 7 balls)

*A J Hollioake b Lewis 31

(56 min, 49 balls, 2 fours)

M A Ealham st Jacobs b Lewis 23

(28 min, 24 balls, 1 four)

M V Fleming c Williams b Arthurton 7

(5 min, 5 balls)

D R Brown not out 2

(8 min, 3 balls)

R D B Croft not out 1

(1 min, 2 balls)

Extras (lb7,w6,nb3) 16

Total (for 8, 186 min, 50 overs) 209

Fall: 1-26 (Knight), 2-84 (B Hollioake), 3-90 (Stewart), 4-91 (Ramprakash), 5-166 (A Hollioake), 6-184 (Hick), 7-195 (Fleming), 8-208 (Ealham).

Did not bat: A R C Fraser.

Bowling: Ambrose 5-0-12-1 (one spell), McLean 7-0-33-0 (4-0-20-0 3-0- 13-0), Lewis 10-0-51-2 (nb3,w1) (5-0-29-0 4-0-18-1 1-0-4-1), Simmons 10- 0-45-2 (w3) (8-0-29-2 2-0-16-0), Hooper 10-2-30-1 (w1) (5-1-8-1 3-1-8- 0 2-0-14-0), Arthurton 8-0-31-2 (w1) (1-0-4-0 2-0-5-0 5-0-22-2).

Progress: 50: 52 min, 75 balls. 100: 107 min, 164 balls. 150: 143 min, 232 balls. 200: 180 min, 295 balls.

WEST INDIES

C B Lambert c Stewart b Fraser 22

(26 min, 24 balls, 4 fours)

P A Wallace b Fleming 33

(114 min, 62 balls, 2 fours, 1 six)

*B C Lara c A Hollioake b Ealham 21

(41 min, 32 balls, 2 fours, 1 six)

C L Hooper run out (Knight-Stewart) 50

(107 min, 72 balls, 2 fours, 1 six)

S C Williams c Knight b Croft 4

(20 min, 27 balls)

K L T Arthurton not out 35

(70 min, 47 balls, 2 fours)

P V Simmons not out 23

(28 min, 24 balls, 4 fours)

Extras (b1,lb16,w7,nb1) 25

Total (for 5, 207 min, 48.1 overs) 213

Fall: 1-33 (Lambert), 2-71 (Lara), 3-112 (Wallace), 4-125 (Williams), 5-173 (Hooper).

Did not bat: R D Jacobs, R N Lewis, N A M McLean, C E L Ambrose.

Bowling: Brown 5-0-32-0 (w4), Fraser 10-2-35-1 (nb1,w1) (one spell each), Ealham 7.1-0-41-1 (4-0-20-1 3.1-0-21-0), Croft 10-3-18-1 (one spell), Fleming 9-0-30-1 (w1) (7-0-22-1 2-0-8-0), A Hollioake 5-0-27-0, Hick 2- 0-13-0 (w1) (one spell each).

Progress: 50: 43 min, 55 balls. 100: 92 min, 112 balls. 150: 166 min, 230 balls. 200: 200 min, 278 balls.

Hooper 50: 106 min, 72 balls, 2 fours, 1 six.

Umpires: S A Bucknor and B Doctrove.

TV Replay Umpire: G T Brown.

Match Referee: R S Madugalle.

Man of the match: C L Hooper.

Adjudicator: Linton Lewis.