Anderson takes two to help England towards big win

First Rothesay Test (day 2 of five), Lord's:

West Indies 121 (Atkinson 7-45) & 79-6 (Anderson 2-11)

England 371 (Crawley 76, Smith 70, Root 68; Seales 4-77)

West Indies way by 171 runs

Scorecard

James Anderson took 2 wickets successful his last innings arsenic an world bowler to thief put England connected people for a immense triumph complete West Indies successful nan first Test astatine Lord’s.

Anderson, opening nan onslaught for nan past clip successful his record-breaking England career, began nan hosts’ hunt for an innings triumph by bowling West Indies skipper Kraigg Brathwaite and returned to person Alick Athanaze caught behind.

With skipper Ben Stokes besides taking 2 wickets and Gus Atkinson 2 of his own, including Jason Holder disconnected nan last shot of nan day, West Indies were near 79-6, still 171 short of making England bat again.

The visitors had really done good to vessel England retired for 371, but are paying nan value for being hustled retired for 121 connected nan opening day.

Jamie Smith, England’s wicketkeeper connected Test debut, showed why he has specified a estimation arsenic a batting talent pinch an assured 70.

Joe Root made a typically elegant 68 and Harry Brook 50, though nary of nan location apical bid could capitalise connected immoderate bully batting conditions pinch a really large score.

Still, England will triumph this lucifer connected a Friday which promises to beryllium an affectional farewell to nan legendary Anderson.

After an opening time of ceremonial for Anderson and excitement surrounding nan seven-wicket haul of Gus Atkinson, Thursday was comparatively debased key, pinch England not having to beryllium astatine their champion to return an robust grip connected nan contest.

Lord’s was splashed pinch reddish for nan Ruth Strauss Foundation and nan fireworks that changeable into nan entity earlier play were nan only pyrotechnics connected show until Smith opened his shoulders precocious successful England’s innings.

After England began connected 189-3, starring by 68, West Indies had a mediocre first hour, but improved aft Brook was dismissed to activity done nan location batting.

England really mislaid their past 7 wickets for 127 runs, nan item of which was Mikyle Louis moving retired Shoaib Bashir pinch a nonstop deed from 40 yards, past mounting disconnected connected a sprinting ceremony that culminated pinch a hug pinch his relative Jeremiah, who is besides successful nan West Indies squad.

West Indies began their 2nd innings consecutive aft beverage and, astatine 37-4, location was a genuine imaginable of nan first two-day Test connected this crushed since 1888.

Athanaze, Holder and Joshua da Silva did conscionable capable to resistance nan lucifer into a 3rd day, but surely thing will forestall England going 1-0 up successful nan three-match series.

Smith has taken complete down nan stumps from his region team-mate Ben Foakes, who is Surrey’s first-choice keeper and arguably nan champion gloveman successful nan world.

England person seen Smith’s imaginable to bat successful different gears, peculiarly attacking erstwhile near pinch nan tail and, connected nan time earlier his 24th birthday, he hinted astatine vindicating their decision.

Brook played nicely earlier flapping astatine an Alzarri Joseph bouncer, not nan first clip he has been undone by short bowling, and Stokes registered his 5th successive single-figure people successful Tests pinch a mediocre changeable astatine a very bully transportation from left-arm spinner Gudakesh Motie.

Smith recovered an moreover tempo pinch Root, who was besides bowled by nan awesome Motie, past aft Chris Woakes and Atkinson fell successful speedy succession to nan 2nd caller ball, he trim loose.

Favouring nan mid-wicket region and keen to usage his feet, Smith deed each of Shamar Joseph and Jayden Seales complete nan limb broadside for six. From having 30 disconnected his first 47 balls, he took 40 disconnected his adjacent 42.

In all, England added 28 runs for nan last 2 wickets, though only Smith scored immoderate runs disconnected nan bat until he was good held astatine heavy quadrate limb by Kirk McKenzie to springiness Seales his 4th wicket.

Emerging astatine number 11, Anderson was fixed a opinionated ovation arsenic he made his measurement to nan middle, past moreover led nan players disconnected contempt not facing a ball. His unbeaten nought was his 114th not-out successful Test cricket, 53 much than anyone other has managed and different of his records that is improbable to ever beryllium broken.

Soon aft he was into a typically superb opening spell from nan Pavilion End, nipping nan shot down nan slope and done Brathwaite’s defence. Anderson’s first spell of 5 overs contained 4 maidens.

Woakes was down connected gait and gave measurement to Stokes, who needed only 3 deliveries to pin McKenzie leg-before for his 200th Test wicket, a milestone that seemed improbable during his agelong struggle pinch a left-knee injury.

It made nan skipper only nan 3rd man successful Test cricket, aft all-time greats Sir Garfield Sobers and Jacques Kallis, to complete nan double of 6,000 runs and 200 wickets, and he celebrated by having Louis caught behind.

Atkinson continued his good crippled by having Kavem Hodge chop on. Athanaze was defying England successful nan gloom until he became yet different unfortunate that Anderson has suckered into an edge.

Holder faced 59 deliveries for his 20 only to fend Atkinson to short limb from nan past shot of nan day, leaving Da Silva connected 8 and Anderson poised to opportunity goodbye.