England gained a place in the semi-finals of the under-15 Costcutter World Challenge at Eton today by beating the West Indies by six wickets. That and their victory over India, the holders, on Sunday, ensured that they will finish top of their group and hence play their semi-final at Chelmsford on Saturday. The boys are hoping now that England's Test team will follow suit at Old Trafford this week.

The West Indies, who won the toss, were bowled out for 131 by the 47th of their 50 overs on a slow pitch. No batsman scored as many as 40. England's bowlers shared the wickets, Tim Bresnan taking three for 30, and the spinners, Dan Broadbent and James Beaumont, four wickets between them. In conditions that were markedly different from what they had grown up on in the Caribbean, the West Indian batsmen struggled to force the ball away.

James Hildreth and Alastair Cook, with 42 and 33 respectively, put on 67 for the second wicket. The bowling was tidy enough but the West Indies did not have sufficient runs to play with. Xavier Marshall collected two late wickets, but Samit Patel, who is rated highly by coach Paul Farbrace, carried England to victory with nine overs still remaining. England now play Holland, who have been thrashed by the West Indies and India, tomorrow.