HAVING helped his side claim ten West Indian wickets yesterday, Stuart Broad last night expressed confidence that England will complete a 2-0 series whitewash over the West Indies later today.

The tourists will resume on 115-3 at Riverside this morning, a deficit of 144 runs as they attempt to secure a second-Test draw in the North-East.

Broad claimed three firstinnings wickets as the West Indies were forced to follow on, and watched Devon Smith, Ramnaresh Sarwan and Chris Gayle all depart as England rammed home their advantage yesterday evening.

The weather could yet affect their chances of maintaining their 100 per cent Test record at Riverside, but Broad remains confident England will sign off on a winning note ahead of July’s first Ashes Test with Australia.

“We’re confident of wrapping things up,” said Broad.

“It was great to pick up ten wickets on what is still a pretty decent batting track. We need seven more wickets now, and that’s certainly in our sights. If the weather stays fine for us, we’ll be okay.

“There’s no real rush to get them before lunch or anything like that. It’s still the sort of wicket you have to stay pretty patient on, but we’re keen to get those seven wickets and win the Test. We have to be ruthless enough to take this opportunity.”

England displayed their ruthless streak in the final hour of yesterday’s play as they claimed three West Indies wickets in the space of five overs.

Durham seamer Graham Onions got two of them, trapping Sarwan lbw before removing danger-man Gayle two balls later with a seaming delivery that induced an edge to the slips.

Gayle had thrashed 54 runs from 43 balls as he attempted to counter-attack, and Broad admits the West Indian skipper’s dismissal was a crucial moment in the game.

“Gayle came out and played fantastically well,” he said.

“He’s always difficult when he puts the pressure on the bowlers like that because you know if you pitch it up, it has a good chance of going back over your head.

“He’s always pretty awkward, but G r a - h a m O n i o n s stepped up and got us two huge wickets late on. As a bowling unit, we’re delighted with our day’s work. We bowled well as a unit and shared the wickets around.”

For the whole of the final session, England’s bowlers found themselves in the unusual position of bowling with Durham all-rounder Paul Collingwood behind the stumps.

Collingwood took over the wicketkeeping duties when regular glovesman Matt Prior was taken to hospital for a scan on a finger injury.

Thankfully, the scan did not show a fracture, but while Prior should be fit to reclaim his place behind the stumps today, Broad was happy with Collingwood’s unorthodox efforts.

“I thought he kept fantastically well,” said the Nottinghamshire paceman, who had been hoping to get back on the pitch for a final burst after bad light stopped play at around 6.20pm. “Although he looked like he should have been in the 1950s with his pads on loose and his cap on straight.

“He did brilliantly, and I thought he was going to get a screamer of a catch at one stage down the leg side. He was falling everywhere.

“Hopefully, Matt will be back (today). There’s no fracture in his finger, and that’s great news for us because he’s been fantastic this year with the bat and the gloves.

“We’ll be pleased to see him back in action, but Colly is sitting proud in the changing room at the moment. I think he’s fairly pleased with his efforts.”

■ Spectators can pay at the gate for today’s final day’s play. Admission is £10 for adults and £5 for juniors.