Bridgetown (Barbados), March 30: Andrew Strauss gathered 79 from 61 balls to lead England to a nine-wicket victory under the Duckworth-Lewis Method over West Indies in the rain-affected fourth one-day International at Kensington Oval on Sunday.

Fortune and the D/L Method again smiled on England, following a two-hour long delay for rain which left the tourists with a victory target of 135 from 20 overs.

They got over the line with nine balls to spare, when Strauss guided Dwayne Bravo to third man for his ninth four.

The result means the series is now tied 2-2 and sets up a thrilling conclusion on Friday at the Beausejour Cricket Ground in St. Lucia, if the West Indies players back down from their threat to strike in protest to outstanding issues with the West Indies Cricket Board.

The rain started during the interval between innings, after England sent West Indies in to bat and the home team made 239/9 from 50 overs.

When play resumed, England were given a solid base of 108 off 87 balls from their captain Strauss and fellow opener Ravi Bopara.

Strauss reached his 50 from 41 balls, when he chipped Kieron Pollard into square leg for a single.

Once he and Bopara set things up with a volley of handsome strokes and nimble running between the wickets, the rest was academic, although they lost Bopara for 35 skying a catch to deep fine leg off Pollard, when 27 were needed from 33 balls.

Earlier, England had been upstaged when Bravo gathered 69 from 72 balls to give a late boost to the West Indies total. — AFP