England swept to a convincing 3-0 series victory over West Indies after significant contributions from Monty Panesar and Steve Harmison helped clinch a seven-wicket win in the fourth and final Test at Chester-le-Street.
Durham paceman Harmison shrugged off concerns over his fitness to deliver a marathon spell of fast bowling, delivering his best performance in almost a year despite being diagnosed with a hernia problem.
Left-arm spinner Panesar was once again the most productive bowler and finished with five for 46 as the tourists collapsed to 222 all out to leave a modest victory target of 110, which England cruised to in only 21.3 overs.
But new coach Peter Moores would be forgiven for savouring the display of Harmison as the most significant for England's chances of further success later this summer in three Tests against India.
Harmison bowled an unbroken 12-over spell after lunch to finally break the tourists' resistance, claiming two for 53 and showing the pace, hostility and consistency which England have lacked previously in the series.
The only slight doubt for England is how much longer they can count on his fitness after being pencilled in for a possible operation if his hernia problem is aggravated further.
"There is a hernia condition which doesn't require an immediate operation and when there is a window an operation could then be likely," confirmed Durham coach Geoff Cook.
"That isn't definite as yet and both England and Durham are hoping he can manage through to the end of the season and keep turning in performances like he has done today.
"If it gets to a stage where it's absolutely impossible for him to play then he'll go in, but I think as it stands now as long as he can perform to the level he has today then they'll want him to continue playing."
Hernia operations can need up to six weeks recovery period, which would rule Harmison out of the opening two Tests of the India series even if he were to have surgery straight away.
But he has been named in the squad for Durham's Friends Provident semi-final against Essex at Chester-le-Street tomorrow and the county are hopeful he will remain fit enough to play a part in their Twenty20 Cup campaign over the next few weeks.
West Indies began the final day trailing by 30 runs on 83 for three but hopeful of salvaging a draw.
However, they suffered an early setback with Chris Gayle edging Matthew Hoggard behind in the fifth over of the morning.
For the rest of the session all-rounder Dwayne Bravo was a model of restraint, resisting his attacking instincts to keep the dependable Shivnarine Chanderpaul company for 13 overs and taking West Indies into the lead.
Bravo, though, appeared to take leave of his senses immediately after the interval and instead of the determined, disciplined batsman who had battled for 67 minutes before lunch, he was transformed into a one-day slogger.
Harmison was hit for three boundaries in two overs and England captain Michael Vaughan immediately introduced Panesar at the other end to inevitable consequences - Bravo hit him over mid-on for four and was caught at mid-off attempting the same shot off the next delivery.
Chanderpaul had every reason to be furious with Bravo for his irresponsible performance after lunch, which prompted a mini-collapse with Panesar claiming three wickets in 24 balls to leave any hopes of salvaging a draw looking almost impossible.
Marlon Samuels was caught at slip and Denesh Ramdin bowled with a fiercely-turning delivery to leave Chanderpaul battling with the tail once again, but this time with little chance of success.
Sensing his time was now, Harmison charged in from the other end with renewed venom and - perhaps fearing for his safety - Daren Powell looped the ball to mid-off attempting another expansive drive.
Fidel Edwards' stumps were also demolished by Harmison, but it was Panesar who finally broke the resistance of Chanderpaul, who by now had progressed to 70 - his sixth successive Test half-century.
Chanderpaul had batted for 17 hours and 40 minutes since his last dismissal in the series during the previous Test at Old Trafford so was perhaps due a false shot when he was bowled after missing an attempted slog sweep.
Chasing a modest victory target, England lost Alastair Cook early when he edged Powell to slip and Andrew Strauss lost his off stump to an inswinger from the same bowler.
That, only set the stage for Vaughan and Kevin Pietersen to forge a brutal 76-run stand off only 68 balls, which was only broken with five runs required when Pietersen edged to slip.
By then, though, the outcome of the match had been settled and local hero Paul Collingwood hit the winning runs on his home ground to end the one-sided series.
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