Dominic Cork grabs the stumps at the moment of victory Photo © CricInfo Ralph Dellor introduces highlights of a historic day at The Oval Nasser Hussain gives his reaction to England's success this summer and explains what has made the difference Jack Bannister commentates on the winning moment Ralph Dellor describes the atmosphere as Nasser Hussain receives the Wisden trophy Colin Croft and Jack Bannister - what the result means for cricket

In an emotion-filled climax to the international summer, England beat West Indies at the Foster's Oval by 158 runs to win the fifth and final Cornhill Test Match and recapture the Wisden Trophy.

Dominic Cork polished off the last two remaining wickets of West Indian legends Curtly Ambrose and Courtney Walsh before celebrations started to mark England's superb 3-1 series win.

Ambrose, in a moving farewell to Test cricket, was caught by Mike Atherton at first slip off Cork's bowling and departed for 28 to heartfelt applause by a 18,500 record crowd.

He was followed two balls later by his good friend Walsh who was lbw for a duck to end West indies innings on 215, well short of the 374 total needed to beat England.

At tea, England had needed another two wickets to add the Trophy to a cabinet that this summer has been filled with a Test series win against Zimbabwe and a superb victory in the NatWest Triangular Tournament.

Andrew Caddick (4-54) and Darren Gough (3-64) were once again the heroes of the hour as England's pacemen once again posed too big a challenge for the West Indian batsmen. Dominic Cork finished with 2-50 and in keeping with his dramatic contribution to Test cricket was the man who brought the summer to its tumultuous end.

Brian Lara avoids a Cork bouncer in his second innings Photo © CricInfo

Resuming after lunch on 89 for three, West Indies main hope Brian Lara immediately hooked Craig White to the square leg boundary as a statement of intent for the afternoon but the plan backfired next over when Adams, clipping a ball from Caddick off his legs found White at backward square leg.

One of the most crucial alliances of the day was broken with West Indies facing more embarrassment on 94 for four. But Lara continued to delight the capacity crowd with some magnificent batting and provided an exciting display of powerful, beautifully timed and effective strokeplay.

For a while he and Ramnaresh Sarwan, who was equally stylish at the other end, dominated the bowling forcing Darren Gough out of the attack after one ten run over.

The runs came thick and fast providing excellent entertainment until the 53rd over, after the pair had added 46, when Lara called for a single but changed his mind leaving it too late to allow Sarwan back to the crease.

His collision with Graham Thorpe, running at the stumps, left him prostrate on the ground having ricked his neck but the third umpires decision will have not have surprised the batsman and Sarwan departed for 27, the score 140 for five.

By then half the scheduled overs were completed and half the wickets in bag but it was the dismissal of Brian Lara that allowed England reason to twitch with anticipation at the prospect of a victory.

Gough's first ball back of the spell rapped Lara on the pads and umpire David Shepherd adjudged him lbw causing dismay among the West Indian supporters who had been blowing horns and bazookas all day in encouragement.

When he went, West Indies were 150 for seven with Mahendra Nagamootoo and Nixon McLean doing their best to reduce the likely margin of defeat. Nagamootoo survived four overs, playing a couple of immaculately timed straight drives, before becoming Gough’s 25th victim of the series pushing forward to be given leg before.

His departure forced Curtly Ambrose out of the dressing room and down the steps for the last time in his career to make a grand and emotional entrance onto the field. In acknowledgement of his remarkable achievement, the England players lined up along the path to the crease and applauded the great West Indian, in a gesture never before seen on a Test square.

More warm applause rippled around the ground among the 18,500 strong crowd who had flocked to the Oval in anticipation of two important moments of cricketing history – Ambrose on a Test field for the last time and England winning back the Wisden Trophy.

In 1948, Don Bradman chose the Oval for his final Test appearance and arrived at the crease to be greeted by the same sort of reception as Ambrose enjoyed today. Unlike Bradman, Ambrose showed few signs of having his concentration ruined by this tear-jerker of a moment, and lasted beyond two famous balls to give his side a late order boost.

The same respect was handed to Walsh who is also playing his last Test match in England and just like Bradman, he lasted two deliveries before the umpire raised his finger to give an lbw decision to bring the match to a close.

The England team awash with the bubbly at their victory
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