One-day international, Edgbaston:West Indies 278-5 beat England 217 by 61 runs
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West Indies levelled the one-day series in a match at Edgbaston that underlined how much England still need to improve in limited-overs internationals.
Shivnarine Chanderpaul continued his superb summer by hitting an unbeaten 116 in a total of 278-5 - a fine effort on an awkward, two-paced surface.
England's bowling lacked penetration in the middle overs and James Anderson's last three overs disappeared for 47.
Their batsmen were then bowled out for an insipid 217, lasting just 46 overs.
Trinidadian seamer Ravi Rampaul cashed in with figures of 4-41, a welcome return for someone who had missed so much international cricket with injuries.
Chris Gayle and Devon Smith produced plenty of aggressive shots over the opening few overs after Paul Collingwood had won the toss.
They raised the 50 in the ninth over, despite obvious signs that batting would not be an easy task on a wicket that was soaking up moisture during regular periods of drizzle.
But England then had their best period of the match.
Anderson removed Smith thanks to a Matt Prior catch - and Ryan Sidebottom, recalled in place of Liam Plunkett - had Gayle mistiming a drive to mid-on.
The loss of their skipper put the brakes on the Windies innings, with just eight runs coming off the final five overs of powerplay, leaving the tourists on 84-2 after 20.
Acceleration was required, and gradually it was provided by Chanderpaul and Marlon Samuels (77) - who ultimately put on 175 in less than 34 overs.
Each man had a bit of luck early on, however.
Chanderpaul - batting at three - was lucky not to be given out lbw on 21 when facing Collingwood, while the England captain only had himself to blame when dropping Samuels off his own bowling on 14.
Samuels did not score his runs with any great ease initially, but did hit three boundaries in one Stuart Broad over to build some momentum.
Mascarenhas bowled an immaculate set of 10 overs, costing just 31, and Michael Yardy, chosen to play at the expense of Monty Panesar, also provided few hitting opportunities.
Chanderpaul had to resort to some very inventive shots - including a reverse sweep - to gain meaningful runs off the Sussex spinner.
Anderson's comeback spell was poor, and with his final three overs proving so expensive his credentials as a "death" bowler may have to be reconsidered by Collingwood and Peter Moores.
Chanderpaul also clobbered 17 off a Sidebottom over costing 19 in all and England's problems were mounting.
But Broad - the only bowler to escape punishment in the final few overs - finally struck when Samuels was caught at backward gully off a clever slow bouncer that he failed to control.
Chanderpaul duly reached his century, however, and most observers would have felt the West Indies total was better than par.
England's new-look opening pair of Prior and Alastair Cook has not yet worked and Cook was the first to depart this time, driving to mid-off.
Ian Bell got a poor decision from umpire Brian Jerling to fall lbw and Kevin Pietersen had his middle stump knocked back as he charged Rampaul.
A heavy shower delayed play for half an hour and when England resumed at 68-3 after 14 overs they were well behind the Duckworth-Lewis par score.
It remained that way as Prior, after clubbing his way to his first one-day international fifty, tamely gave mid-wicket a catch to depart for 52.
Then Collingwood completed a forgettable match for him as he was lbw to a fiery Fidel Edwards for one.
Yardy looked ill-equipped to provide the big shots that were now needed - and was eventually caught on the boundary for 19, using up 42 deliveries.
Owais Shah fell soon after for a creditable 45 - giving Rampaul a third wicket - and with 107 needed from less than 13 overs, with just three wickets in hand, that was effectively game over.
The rain started falling heavily on a miserable day for the home spectators - but the grim viewing continued as Mascarenhas holed out to mid-off.
There was another brief delay at 180-8 and the few spectators who were left watched the match end when Anderson was caught behind off Edwards.
The series now heads to a decider at Trent Bridge on Saturday, where, touch wood, the forecast is pretty good.
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