Windies cling on for series triumph

West Indies, asked to bat for a minimum of 66 overs to save the final match at Queen's Park Oval, closed on 114 for eight, following a tense finale, which left England without a Test victory all winter.

Kevin Pietersen's 16th Test hundred set up the final-innings scenario which left West Indies requiring 240 for victory. But they continued the defensive theme they have adopted since the start of the fifth and final Test to survive by another nailbiting margin and win the series 1-0.

Having staved off defeat in Antigua by one wicket, this time they had two in hand as number 10 Fidel Edwards survived five balls of the final over sent down by left-arm spinner Monty Panesar.

Edwards came to the crease with 20 balls remaining and survived his personal battle but it was his ninth-wicket partner Denesh Ramdin's two hours of discipline which were most significant in securing the draw.

James Anderson, undoubtedly the tourists' best bowler on day four despite it not being reflected in the wickets column, sustained his form with greater reward to keep England in the hunt, and Graeme Swann also claimed three wickets.

Anderson had opener Lendl Simmons brilliantly caught low down at second slip by Paul Collingwood as early as the seventh over. Swann, who delayed elbow surgery to feature in the final two Tests of the series, reaped extraordinary figures of 21-13-13-3 as the hosts completely shut up shop.

Three afternoon wickets kept hopes alive and two within the first seven overs of the evening session meant all three results were still possible. Swann trapped Chanderpaul leg before with a delivery which rushed onto the left-hander from around the wicket - and West Indies lost their right of referrals when Chanderpaul made a challenge.

Fellow left-hander Nash was also pinned lbw, this time by a delivery sent down from around the wicket by Anderson, who was reverse-swinging the ball prodigiously at good pace.

When Monty Panesar fortuitously terminated Ryan Hinds' disciplined vigil, from the first delivery after replacing Anderson from the Brian Lara Pavilion end, there was a state of excitement around the ground - but there was to be no fairytale finish to a tour of hard toil for fast bowlers.