Batty makes the most of his rare time in the middle

<preform>Carib Beer XI 129 &amp; 227 England 347 & 13-2 <i>England win by 8 wickets</i></preform>

England's spinners have had little to do during their first month in the Caribbean. Michael Vaughan's pacemen have dominated the first two Test matches to such an extent that Ashley Giles bowled only 22 overs in Jamaica and Trinidad.

England's spinners have had little to do during their first month in the Caribbean. Michael Vaughan's pacemen have dominated the first two Test matches to such an extent that Ashley Giles bowled only 22 overs in Jamaica and Trinidad.

Before yesterday Gareth Batty had had even less to do. The Worcestershire all-rounder had sent down just three meaningful deliveries prior to the final day's play of England's warm-up game against a Carib Beer XI.

But with England's front-line bowlers being saved for the third Test, Batty enjoyed the chance to shine on the west coast of Barbados and claimed his first five-wicket haul for his country. The off-spinner's final figures of 5 for 53 are unlikely to gain him selection on Thursday, but he can take satisfaction from the fact he played a staring role in at least one England victory in the Caribbean.

After bowling out the Carib Beer XI for 229 in their second innings, England lost two wickets while knocking off the 12 runs they needed for victory but further embarrassment was avoided when Rikki Clarke drove Jermaine Lawson straight down the ground for four.

Batty's frustrations on this tour would have been compounded on Saturday. After being given out lbw for a duck, he was then deprived of a decent bowl when bad light caused play to be abandoned just three balls into his opening spell.

The 26-year-old failed to let these set-backs dishearten him and turned up full of enthusiasm for what is probably his last full day of work on the Test part of this tour. Ashley Giles was given first use of the spinner's end and dismissed Sylvester Joseph for an aggressive 50. Batty then chipped in with his first wicket, that of Darren Ganga.

Up until then Ganga had looked like making a nuisance of himself and was celebrating his call-up to the West Indies' squad with a solid innings. However, on 39, the opener's concentration went and he top-edged a slog/sweep back to the bowler, who took a safe catch at mid-off. Giles then tempted Tonito Willett to edge a sweep shot to England's substitute fielder, Stephen Harmison, at short fine-leg. With the score on 167 for 4, lunch was taken.

Batty started up after the interval at the Ramadhin and Valentine End of the 3W's ground and claimed his second wicket with his second ball. Dwayne Bravo had every reason to look disappointed with the umpire's lbw decision - the right-hander appeared to get a big inside-edge on the ball. This started a spell which saw Batty take 4 for 10 in seven overs.

He had to wait three overs for his next victim but then took wickets in consecutive overs. Denesh Ramdin was smartly taken by Paul Collingwood at short-leg and Omari Banks was superbly caught by a diving Clarke at mid-wicket.

Dave Mohammed, a left-arm leg-spinner from Trinidad was on the wrong end of some powerful hitting from Graham Thorpe and Geraint Jones on Saturday. During their partnership of 117, which allowed England to post a first-innings lead of 218, he was struck over the ropes for six on four occasions.

Yesterday Mohammed came out looking for revenge but could only edge a fine catch through to Jones. It gave Batty his fifth wicket. James Anderson made short work of Ravi Rampaul and but for some late hitting from Lawson, England would have completed an innings' victory.

Final day of three; Carib Beer XI won toss

CARIB BEER XI - First Innings 129.

ENGLAND - First Innings 347 (G P Thorpe 88, G O Jones 66, M E Trescothick 50).

CARIB BEER XI - Second Innings
D Ganga c & b Batty 39
X M Marshall c Jones b Anderson 4
S C Joseph c Hoggard b Giles 50
D J J Bravo lbw b Batty 33
T A Willett c Sub b Giles 21
D Ramdin c Collingwood b Batty 4
O A C Banks c Clarke b Batty 9
D Mohammed c Jones b Batty 6
R Rampaul c Butcher b Anderson 6
J J C Lawson not out 28
D M Washington b Anderson 8
Extras (b9 lb4 nb8) 21
Total (78.1 overs) 229

Fall: 1-9, 2-91, 3-116, 4-163, 5-165, 6-179, 7-182, 8-193, 9-195.

Bowling: Anderson 18.1-5-56-3; Clarke 13-1-64-0; Giles 19-4-34-2; Batty 24-7-53-5; Hoggard 4-0-9-0.

ENGLAND - Second Innings
P D Collingwood c Ramdin b Lawson 0
R Clarke not out 8
G J Batty b Rampaul 5
M E Trescothick not out 0
Total (for 2, 2.4 overs) 13

Fall: 1-0, 2-7.

Did Not Bat: M A Butcher, G P Thorpe, G O Jones, C M W Read, A F Giles, M J Hoggard, J M Anderson.

Bowling: Lawson 1.4-0-13-1; Rampaul 1-1-0-1.

Umpires: T Franklyn and M Jones