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Windies facing defeat at Old Trafford

West Indies bowler Darren Sammy celebrates taking seven wickets against England on the third day of the third Test in Manchester, England, on Saturday. PHOTO: AFP

Darren Sammy took seven wickets on his Test debut at Old Trafford on Saturday but the West Indies were still left facing a series defeat against England.

At stumps, on the third day of the third Test, the West Indies were 22 for one in their second innings -- needing a further 433 to reach their victory target of 455 with two days to spare.

A win for England would put them an unbeatable 2-0 up in the four-match series with one to play.

Sammy's haul of seven for 66 in 21.3 overs saw him take three wickets for no runs in five balls and six for 12 in 33.

He was the ninth West Indian to take five wickets on Test debut as England were bowled out for 313 featuring 106 from Alastair Cook.

Sammy's were the best Test debut innings figures for the West Indies since Alf Valentine's eight for 104 at Old Trafford in 1950.

And they were the best by anyone in a Test match at the Manchester venue since West Indies fast bowling great Malcolm Marshall's seven for 22 in 1988.

"I always dreamed of playing for West Indies," Sammy told reporters. "I made my debut, first in the one-dayers and now in the Test but I never thought it would turn out like that," Sammy said. "I am very satisfied with my performance today [Saturday]."

Sammy is now set to loan the ball with which he did so much damage to the MCC Museum at Lord's, although he will be taking it home with him when he returns to St Lucia.

And he said the people of his native island would be rejoicing at his achievements.

"I've just been on the phone with the minister of sports, the St Lucian people will be happy today [Saturday]."

They might not be so happy with the overall match situation and before the close West Indies captain Daren Ganga was lbw for nought to fast bowler Stephen Hamison, in a near replay of his first innings dismissal.

Chris Gayle was 11 not out and Devon Smith 10 not out.

Accurate 23-year-old Sammy, the first St Lucian to play Test cricket, provided a lesson to the quicker bowlers on both teams and struck three times in the 75th over.

He squared up Ian Bell, who edged the over's first ball to wicket-keeper Denesh Ramdin.

Matthew Prior went in similar fashion next ball before Liam Plunkett survived the hat-trick, the ball just missing the outside edge.

But two balls later Plunkett was also out for nought, brilliantly caught by Dwayne Bravo at second slip.

His fifth wicket came when Harmison edged to Runako Morton in the gully and he then got rid of Paul Collingwood for 42 with the aid of a catch by Ganga in the gully.

Sammy then wrapped up the innings when last man Monty Panesar edged to Gayle at first slip.

Cook, 89 not out at tea, completed his century with a pulled four off Sammy, having then faced 198 balls with 10 boundaries.

It was the sixth time in his 17 Tests the left-handed opener had reached three figures and the second this series after his 105 in the drawn first Test at Lord's.

A touch unfortunately, he was lbw to Gayle for 106 but only Australia's Don Bradman (eight), India's Sachin Tendulkar (eight) and Pakistan's Javed Miandad (seven) had scored more Test hundreds at the same age as the 22-year-old Cook.

Cook, who'd scored 60 in the first innings of this match, shared a third-wicket partnership of 122 with Kevin Pietersen, who made 68.

Pietersen was out in unlucky fashion. Trying to hook a Bravo short ball, his helmet fell off, hit the stumps, and he was given out hit wicket.
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