Test-best Anderson bowls England to Windies series win

LONDON: James Anderson took the best innings figures of his Test career as England completed a nine-wicket and series-clinching victory against West Indies at Lord’s.

Anderson followed up his Friday feat of becoming the first England bowler and only sixth in history to take 500 Test wickets by finishing with a return of seven for 42 in 20.1 overs as West Indies were dismissed for 177 in their second innings on the third day of the third Test on Saturday.

That left England with a meagre target of 107 and they finished on 107 for one off 28 overs as they took the three-match series 2-1.

It was the second time this series England had won inside three days – they won the opener, the inaugu- ral day-night Test in Britain, by an innings and 209 runs at Edgbaston last month.

Much of this match was a day-nighter in all but name and it was no surprise that batsmen on both sides struggled in overcast conditions against the red ball.

Mark Stoneman was 40 not out and Tom Westley 44 not out in an unbroken stand of 72.

“I’m very pleased. It’s been a great week. It was a challenging wicket,” England captain Joe Root said.

“The ball seemed to hop around,” added Root, whose first season as Test skipper ended with two series wins after South Africa were beaten 3-1 in a preceding four-match campaign.

“In the second innings Jimmy (Anderson) was outstanding – he mastered it.

“I don’t know how he managed to get seven wickets with it.”

Anderson’s return just surpassed his previous best in 129 career Tests of seven for 43 against New Zealand at Trent Bridge in 2008.

“Playing a Test match here is always special but this week will live in my memory,” said the 35-year-old Anderson, who made his Test debut at Lord’s in 2003.

“I didn’t think I’d play anywhere near as much for England,” added the Lancashire swing bowler.

But it was England all-rounder Ben Stokes who was named man-ofthe-match after taking a Test-best six for 22 in West Indies’ first innings 123 and then top-scoring with 60 when the hosts made 194 in reply.

Shai Hope, whose twin hundreds were the backbone of West Indies’ series-levelling win at Headingley, top-scored for the tourists on Saturday with 62.

But Hope’s fourth ball after lunch saw him caught behind undone off a superb Anderson leg-cutter.

West Indies’ tail folded cheaply with Anderson, fittingly, ending the innings when he bowled Kemar Roach.

For the second time in the match, Anderson walked off to a standing ovation from a capacity Lord’s crowd.

Leg-spinner Devendra Bishoo struck with his first ball to have Alastair Cook (17) lbw but that merely denied England a 10-wicket victory.