England defeated St Kitts and Nevis

England’s tour of the West Indies got off to a successful start when they defeated St Kitts and Nevis by 217 runs in their opening three-day tour match at Warner Park in St Kitts today.



England, which resumed this morning on 118 without loss in their second innings declared on 265 for five setting St Kitts 439 to win in two sessions.



But St Kitts and Nevis were dismissed for 221, 20 minutes before the scheduled close of play.



Codville Rogers scored his second half-century in the match for St Kitts and Nevis with an attractive 79. Shane Jeffers chipped in with 41 and Junie Mitchum scored 30.



Left-arm spinner Monty Panesar claimed three wickets, to extend his match haul to seven, and all six of the English bowlers employed were successful.



Earlier, captain Andrew Strauss celebrated England’s third hundred of the match with 103 off 116 balls. He retired immediately.



Scores in the match so far:- England 424 for eight declared and 265 for five declared; St Kitts and Nevis 251 and 221.



England will now take on West Indies ‘A’ team from Thursday in the final warm-up before the first test starts February 4 at Sabina Park in Jamaica.