Soon-to-retire James Anderson dismissed West Indies captain Kraigg Brathwaite for the final time as England took total control of the first Test at Lord’s, though the visitors managed to avoid defeat within two days.
The West Indies were 79-6 in their second innings at stumps Thursday, still trailing England by 171 runs, with Joshua Da Silva not out on eight.
England resumed the second day on 189-3 and were all out at tea for 371, securing a commanding innings lead of 250 runs. Wicketkeeper Jamie Smith scored 70 on his Test debut, while opener Zak Crawley top-scored with 76. Joe Root contributed 68, Ollie Pope added 57, and Harry Brook chipped in with 50, all delivering half-centuries.
Pacer Jayden Seales was the pick of the bowlers for the West Indies, taking 4-77, with Jason Holder and Gudakesh Motie picking up two wickets each.
188th and final Test
The 41-year-old Anderson, playing in his 188th and final Test, bowled Brathwaite to leave the visitors struggling at 12-1. Anderson, the first seamer in history to reach 700 Test wickets, finished with figures of 2-11 in 10 overs, including five maidens, bringing his career total to 703 wickets. He had earlier taken 1-26 in the West Indies’ first innings of 121.
England captain Ben Stokes joined the exclusive club of cricketers with 200 Test wickets and 6,000 Test runs when he trapped Kirk McKenzie (0) leg before wicket, a decision unsuccessfully reviewed by the batter. Stokes (2-25) also claimed the wicket of Mikyle Louis (14), who was caught behind. Stokes is only the third player to reach the 200 wickets-6,000 runs Test milestone, following in the footsteps of West Indies’ Sir Garfield Sobers and South Africa’s Jacques Kallis.
England debutant Gus Atkinson continued his impressive performance, having claimed 7-45 in the first innings, and followed up with 2-27 so far in the West Indies’ second innings, leaving him one short of a 10-wicket match haul.
