Eddie not having a pop, Kyle
LOCAL HERO IS KING OF SWING
BEFORE this Test match, Jimmy Anderson had a stand named after him.
After his exploits yesterday, Old Trafford was standing instead – to applaud Lancashire’s newest icon.
The veteran quickie had been bowled over when officials rebranded the Pavilion End – and he lived up to that top billing.
A devastating spell ripped the heart out of the South African line-up – the King of Swing claiming four scalps as England took a grip of this final Test.
It was almost a perfect day for the 35-year-old who needed just three balls to christen the James Anderson Stand.
He trapped Dean Elgar bang in front of his stumps as he set the tone for a disciplined show by Joe Root’s attack.
And then, as the Proteas laboured after tea but were only three down, he steamed in and tipped the balance.
Anderson had peppered Temba Bavuma’s off-peg without much joy but he then made a dreadful error of judgement, shouldering arms, and the bails were just flicked off.
Two balls later, opposition skipper Faf du Plessis was castled after he edged on. And, after Root snaffled Theunis de Bruyn at second slip, he had grabbed 4-33, eclipsing his best figures on this ground.
That return beat the 4-118 he claimed against New Zealand seven years ago and opened the door for England to record their first series victory at home against the Proteas in 19 years.
Moeen Ali removed Keshav Maharaj and Stuart Broad chipped in by having Quinton de Kock caught behind and, in the final over of the day, Ben Stokes pulled off a magnificent onehanded catch at third slip to dismiss Kagiso Rabada.
It left South Africa within sight of an unwanted treble – facing defeat in the Test series along with their reversals in the one-dayers and T20s.
Earlier, Anderson had played a crucial part in ensuring that England had a decent total following an eventful last-wicket stand with Jonny Bairstow.
A flurry of early boundaries had come at the cost of three home wickets and when the local hero walked to the crease, his partner had 53 runs.
Anderson added just four of his own as Bairstow bludgeoned his way into the 90s.
But on 99, Bairstow missed a sweep to Maharaj and was out lbw – the first Englishman to fall one short of his century since Kevin Pietersen seven years ago.