West Indies sunk to their heaviest defeat in Tests yesterday, when England won the rain-affected second Test by an innings and 283 runs. West Indies, following on 424 runs behind on first innings, were dismissed for 141 in their second innings about 15 minutes after the rescheduled tea break. The result was formalised, when Jerome Taylor mistimed a hook at a short delivery from Steve Harmison, and he was bowled dragging the ball into his stumps. The victory gave England a 1-0 lead in the four-Test series, after the rain-marred first Test ended in a draw at Lord's last week. Dwayne Bravo hit the top score of 52 off 74 balls and Runako Morton made 25, but no other West Indies batsman passed 20. Ryan Sidebottom was the most successful England bowler with four wickets for 44 runs from 15 overs, and Harmison captured three for 37 from 13.1 overs. With injured captain Ramnaresh Sarwan not likely to bat, the visitors needed either a phenomenal batting performance or a force majeure to avoid defeat. The heaviest loss West Indies had previously suffered in a Test was an innings and 237 runs to the same opponents 50 years ago at the Oval. Bravo however, was the leading light with a mixture of sound defence and aggression. He reached his 50, when he pulled Steve Harmison for the last of his six fours through midwicket. He also had a six lofted over long-off off Monty Panesar. After the last of two lengthy stoppages for rain, West Indies lost two wickets to Ryan Sidebottom, giving the left-arm fast-medium bowler figures of four wickets for 44 runs from 15 overs at the break. Sylvester Joseph was adjudged lbw for one playing across a delivery that swung back, and Devon Smith was caught at first slip for 16 when he feathered a delivery that pitched and left him. West Indies were 57 for five when he departed, and Bravo came to the wicket, and he added 63 for the sixth wicket with Runako Morton which was the best stand for the visitors in the entire match. Morton, however, was caught behind for 25 off Harmison when he miscued a hook at a short, rising delivery, as West Indies went to tea on 137 for six. After the break, the end came swiftly, as Denesh Ramdin was lbw to Harmison for five, and Bravo drove Plunkett and was caught at mid-off before Taylor brought a timid end. Earlier, West Indies lost opener Chris Gayle before rain stopped play for the first time with the visitors on 31 for three. The entire third day on Sunday had been lost to the weather, but play started promptly on Monday, and West Indies continued from their bedtime total of 22 for two. Gayle, who had been dropped late on Saturday, made little use of his reprieve, and was caught behind for 13 off Liam Plunkett squared-up by a delivery that pitched middle and leg, and left him late. Shortly after his dismissal, the players were sent scampering for cover by a shower, but they were back out after close to two hours, and West Indies meekly surrendered. The third Test begins at Manchester on June 7, four days after the West Indies complete a tour-match against an MCC XI which starts on Friday at Chester-le-Street. Scoreboard England 1st Innings 570-7 dec (K Pietersen 226, M Vaughan 103, M Prior 75) West Indies 1st Innings 146 (R Sidebottom 4-42, L Plunkett 3-35) West Indies 2nd Innings (overnight: 22-2) C Gayle c Prior b Plunkett 13 D Ganga lbw b Sidebottom 11 D Powell lbw b Sidebottom 0 D Smith c Strauss b Sidebottom 16 S Joseph lbw b Sidebottom 1 R Morton c Prior b Harmison 25 D Bravo c Plunkett b Panesar 52 D Ramdin lbw b Harmison 5 J Taylor b Harmison 0 C Collymore not out 0 R Sarwan absent hurt Extras: (b1, lb12, nb5) 18 Total: (all out, 42.1 overs, 161 mins) 141 Fall of wickets: 1-20 (Ganga), 2-22 (Powell), 3-30 (Gayle), 4-47 (Joseph), 5-57 (Smith), 6-120 (Morton), 7-141 (Ramdin), 8-141 (Bravo), 9-141 (Taylor) Bowling: Sidebottom 15-4-44-4; Plunkett 8-1-27-1 (1nb); Harmison 13.1-3-37-3 (4nb); Panesar 6-1-20-1; Toss: England Reprinted from jamaicaobserver.com