Cork hat-trick helps England to square Test series

Dominic Cork celebrates becoming the first English bowler to take a hat-trick in a Test match for 38 years in England's win over the West Indies at Old Trafford yesterday.

It continued a fairytale introduction to international sport for Cork, who became an instant national hero on his debut last month when he bowled England to victory at Lord's virtually single-handedly.

He followed that up with a battling half-century on Saturday and then leapt into action early yesterday morning, bowling the West Indies captain, Richie Richardson, and then trapping Junior Murray and Carl Hooper leg before with the last three balls of his first over.

Cork becomes the eighth Englishman to take a Test hat-trick, and the first since Peter Loader against the same opposition at Headingley in 1957.

England's victory - by six wickets - was not without its fraught moments when they set out to make the 94 runs they needed after bowling the West Indies out for 314, of which Brian Lara hit a superb 145. The six-Test series is now tied at 2-2.

Martin Johnson, page 24