West Indies v England

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Vaughan - hit a half-century.

By Myles Hodgson, PA Sport Cricket Correspondent, Barbados

Paul Nixon chose Duncan Fletcher's final match as England coach to repay the faith he put in him to conjure up a stunning victory over West Indies.

The 36-year-old Leicestershire wicketkeeper was a big surprise pick in England's one-day squads this winter despite a successful career in county cricket.

But Nixon repaid Fletcher's faith in him by hitting a crucial 38 to take England to the brink before Stuart Broad hit the winning runs from the fifth ball of the final over to seal a nailbiting one-wicket triumph in their final match of a dismal World Cup campaign.

Nixon's efforts, which included hitting three boundaries off the 48th over of the innings from seamer Corey Collymore, enabled them to chase down West Indies' total of 300 with one ball remaining.

England's hopes of ending Fletcher's eight-year reign with victory - and spoiling Brian Lara's farewell party - seemed lost after Kevin Pietersen was bowled by Jerome Taylor for 100 with 32 still required from 22 balls.

But Nixon's composure under pressure clinched a famous victory and at least salvaged a rousing finish from a miserable World Cup campaign which only had victories over Canada, Kenya, Ireland and Bangladesh to show for it before this game.

England had been well placed to clinch victory at the halfway stage of their innings on 154 for three with captain Michael Vaughan making his most telling contribution of the tournament.

But just 21 runs short of his maiden one-day international century Vaughan pushed Ramneresh Sarwan's leg-spin to backward point and set off for a quick single, but misjudged Dwayne Bravo's athleticism in the field and was several yards short of his direct hit to the non-striker's end.

His demise was the catalyst for another stunning collapse with England losing four wickets for 35 runs in only nine overs and even another Kevin Pietersen century did not look enough to claim victory.

But Nixon's stunning display took them to the brink of victory and although he was bowled with three runs needed from four balls, youngster Broad edged England home with a ball to spare.