LONDON, Aug 20: Steve Harmison took eight wickets against a hapless West Indies to leave England in sight of a seventh successive victory on day two of the fourth Test at the Oval on Friday.

The world's most dangerous fast bowler took six for 46 as West Indies were dismissed for 152 in their first innings and then added another two as the tourists ended the day 84 for two after following on.

England captain Michael Vaughan had asked West Indies to bat again after they finished 318 runs adrift of England's first innings of 470 all out. At stumps West Indies had reduced the deficit to 234 with opener Chris Gayle 59 not out after smashing six fours off a Matthew Hoggard over, the first time the feat has been achieved in a six-ball over in Test history.

However, Harmison removed Sylvester Joseph as he did in the first innings to claim his 100th Test wicket and debutant Ian Bell took a memorable diving catch at gully to dismiss Ramnaresh Sarwan and give the tall paceman eight for 60 in the day.

With three days to play West Indies seem powerless to prevent England recording a 4-0 series whitewash, having already routed New Zealand 3-0 in May and June. Winning seven consecutive tests would equal an England record from 1928/29 and they would also complete a 10th win out of 11 Tests played so far this year after winning 3-0 in the Caribbean.

Harmison, who has not hogged the limelight this time as in recent series, also contributed a valuable 36 not out in an entertaining cameo with the bat before tea. He dismissed openers Gayle and Joseph cheaply and returned to demolish the middle order and tail with Dwayne Bravo, Carlton Baugh and Corey Collymore all perishing.

He also snatched the wicket of Brian Lara, who had fought valiantly amongst the chaos to amass a rapid 79, Robert Key taking an easy catch in the deep. England's fielding was sharp, with Geraint Jones making a diving take down the leg side to dismiss Gayle and Key pulling off a stunning one handed-catch behind square to remove Shivnarine Chanderpaul off Hoggard.

West Indies were further hampered by Dwayne Smith not being able to bat after being taken to hospital with a side strain. Ashley Giles had earlier led England's tail in frustrating the tourists, equalling his highest test score of 52 and sharing an 87-run eighth wicket stand with Hoggard, who also notched his test best of 38.

Even last pair Harmison and James Anderson built a 60-run partnership from 60 balls with Harmison smashing three sixes in his best test score, as all England's batsmen made double figures for only the third time.

West Indies would have been hopeful of dismissing England for under 400 when they removed danger men Andrew Flintoff (72) and Jones in the first four overs of the morning after England had resumed on 313 for five.

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