Anderson keeps England in charge
JAMES ANDERSON struck twice, including taking his 100th Test wicket at Lord’s, as England remained in command against India yesterday.
India were 17 for two in their second innings when rain forced an early lunch on the fourth day of the second Test, facing a huge deficit of 272 runs.
Anderson removed India openers Murali Vijay and KL Rahul on his way to figures of two wickets for eight runs in five overs.
Cheteshwar Pujara was five not out and Ajinkya Rahane one not out, with India captain Virat Kohli unable to bat in his regular number four position because of back stiffness.
It now seemed further rain was India’s best hope of avoiding a defeat that would leave them 2-0 down in this five-match series.
Anderson, England’s all-time leading Test wicket-taker, started yesterday on 99 Test wickets in 23 Tests at Lord’s following his first-innings haul of five for 20 in India’s meagre 107 all out.
As in that innings, yesterday’s overcast conditions were ideal for the 36-year-old Lancashire swing bowler.
And having bowled Vijay for nought in the first innings, it was not long before Anderson had him caught behind by wicket-keeper Jonny Bairstow for his second duck of the match.
Rahul square-drove Stuart Broad for four but he fell for 10 when, playing across the line, he was lbw to Anderson.
His exit gave Anderson, fifth in the all-time standings, his 551st Test wicket.
Anderson was now just 12 shy of the 563 Test wickets taken by Glenn McGrath. – AFP