BITTER END FOR SAD ATHERTON

FEEBLE England pushed Mike Atherton to the brink as they tumbled headlong towards fresh and all too familiar Test humiliation in the Caribbean yesterday.

Only days after torrential rain had robbed them of a series- levelling win in Barbados, England collapsed, crumbled and finally capitulated to leave Atherton's record-breaking captaincy reign once again in jeopardy.

And by the time the West Indies have finished with England in this sixth and final Test at Antigua's Recreation Ground, Athers could well be close to standing down - and who could blame him?

By the close of the second day Brian Lara's rejuvenated team were only one run adrift without losing a wicket.

Their stranglehold on the match and the series is absolute and now England can only look forward to a torrid battle for survival.

Sadly on the evidence of this inept performance only ran can possibly save them now.

England can have no excuses. They batted woefully, bowled brainlessly and looked a well-beaten outfit long before bad light put an end to the carnage.

By then the brilliant Curtly Ambrose and rookie leg-spinner Dinanath Ramnarine had skittled England for 127 before West Indian openers Philo Wallace and Clayton Lambert steamed into Angus Fraser and Co with a sizzling century partnership.

England had always known it was going to be a long day.

Resuming at 35-2 they soon lost nightwatchman Dean Headley as he was neatly caught by Lara at first slip to give Ambrose his third wicket of the innings and his 28th of the series.

Alec Stewart battled manfully for 22 but in the final over before lunch Franklyn Rose shattered his stumps.

But worse was to come soon after the interval.

Graham Thorpe was adjudged lbw by South African umpire Cyril Mitchley as he looked to turn Ramnarine on the leg side. Thorpe looked unimpressed and was summoned to see match referee Barry Jarman after stumps.

Thorpe's disbelief, however, didn't register on the scoreboard as England slumped to 66-5.

Nasser Hussain and Mark Ramrakash briefly threatened to revive England with a sixth wicket partnership of 39 but it only delayed the inevitable.

Hussain, who had played intelligently for 37, top edged a sweep against Ramnarine for Roland Holder to hold a stunning diving catch at square leg. Two balls later Jack Russell was snapped up at short leg by Lambert to give Ramnarine his third victim.

Ramprakash rashly aimed a cut at a wide Courtney Walsh ball to send a simple catch to Chanderpaul.

Andy Caddick mis-hit Ramnarine into the deep for Walsh to take a running catch and give the young spinner a Test best return of four for 29.

Walsh finished the job moments later, dismissing Angus Fraser - and then Wallace and Lambert took over.

It was as though they were batting on an entirely different track to the one England had struggled so survive on.

Wallace slammed eight fours and one six, a savage short arm pull off Caddick, to reach a half century from just 51 balls.

By the time the umpires called it off he had reached 67 not out in the West Indian total of 126 without loss from just 27 overs.

Lambert played his part too with an unbeaten 46 and today's prospect of a West Indian run-fest, no doubt led by Lara, could be the last straw for Atherton.

ENGLAND.- 1st Inns

Atherton c Ramnarine b Ambrose 15

Stewart b Rose 22

Butcher c Lara b Ambrose 0

Headley c Lara b Ambrose 1

Hussain c Holder b Ramnarine 37

Thorpe lbw b Ramnarine 5

Ramprakash c Chanderpaul b Walsh 14

Russell c Lambert b Ramnarine 0

Caddick c Walsh b Ramnarine 8

Fraser b Walsh 9

Tufnell not out 2

Extras (b1;lb2;nb11) 14

Total (70.5ovs) 127

Fall: 1-27, 2-27, 3-38, 4-57, 5-66, 6-105, 7-105, 8-105, 9-117.

Bowling: Walsh 25.5-8-52-2, Ambrose 17-6-28-3, Ramnarine 17-5-29- 4, Hooper 1-1-0-0, Rose 9-4-14-1, Lambert 1-0-1-0.

WEST INDIES.- 1st Inns

Lambert not out 47

Wallace not out 67

Extras (lb5;nb7) 12

Total (for none, 27 overs) 126

Bowling: Caddick4-0-27-0; Fraser 4-0-20-0; Headley 8-0-35-0; Tufnell 9-1-33-0; Ramprakash 2-0-6-0

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