Brian Lara made 88 at a run a ball and the link between his return to form and the West Indian victory was close. Thoughtful bowling by Courtney Walsh, Rawl Lewis and Phil Simmons, supported by fielding which was more reliable than Pakistan's, made sure that a total of 275 for seven was defended.

This was the first West Indian victory in any international match since they defeated Sri Lanka in a home Test match last June. They bowled too many no-balls as usual and the younger fast bowlers, Franklyn Rose and Mervyn Dillon, were weak links on the bland, slow pitch.

At least they sharpened up the West Indian fielding, which was exemplary: Lewis held the first of several fine catches in the deep and the three run-outs were the result of inch-perfect throws from Lara, Simmons and Lewis again.

By contrast Pakistan were profligate. The West Indies openers, Philo Wallace and Stuart Williams, were both badly dropped Williams twice in fact - and their brisk start gave Lara time to play himself in. A ticklish sort of start was soon forgotten and he hit three sixes in his fifty off 46 balls. He eventually struck Wasim Akram's slower ball to deep square leg in the 46th over but a demanding total was assured by then.

The hawk-eyed brilliance of Shahid Afridi, who hit four sixes, had given them every chance of extending their run of success until Lara ran him out, at 122 in the 23rd over, with a swift piece of work from short third man.

The winners of the England v West Indies match today should qualify for next Friday's final, but the one certain consequence of the defeats of India and Pakistan in the first two games is that one of these two 'host' countries will eliminate the other when they meet tomorrow.