Anderson joins 500-wicket club
LONDON:England’s James Anderson became the sixth bowler and first Englishman to take 500 Test wickets when he clean bowled West Indies’ Kraigg Brathwaite for four on day two of the third Test at Lord’s on Thursday.
Anderson began the match on 497 and took the wickets of Brathwaite and Kyle Hope before Ben Stokes ran through the visitors in the first innings with a six-wicket spell.
After England were bowled out for 194 on Friday, giving them a lead of 71, Anderson took the new ball again and produced an unplayable inswinger to reach the milestone in style.
The 35-year-old received a standing ovation as he joined Sri Lanka’s off spinner Muttiah Muralitharan (800), Australian leg spinner Shane Warne (708), Indian leg spinner Anil Kumble (619), Australian paceman Glenn McGrath (563) and West Indies quickie Courtney Walsh (519) in the 500 club.
Earlier, England all-rounder Ben Stokes followed his bowling masterclass against West Indies with a half century and Stuart Broad blazed away for a vital 38 as the hosts took a 71-run first innings lead on the second day of the third Test at Lord’s on Friday.
Resuming on 46 for four in reply to the tourists’ 123, England were bowled out for 194 and were again indebted to Stokes who struck 10 boundaries in a fluent innings before being bowled out by Shannon Gabriel.
On a chaotic opening day, Stokes took a career-best six for 22 with a devastating spell of swing bowling as West Indies lost their last eight wickets for 45 runs.
West Indies stayed in contention to claim a first series victory in England for 29 years, however, as paceman Kemar Roach finished with five for 72, although they may come to rue allowing England to stretch their lead.
The series is locked at 1-1 after West Indies hit back from a firstTest drubbing at Edgbaston to win the Headingley Test.
At tea, Day 2: West Indies 123. England (overnight: 46/4) 194 all out in 52.5 overs (B Stokes 60, S Broad 38, K Roach 5/72).