Hope keeps Windies fight alive after Anderson 500

James Anderson became the first Englishman to take 500 Test wickets as the third and deciding Test between England and Windies, being played at Lord’s, hung in the balance at the end of the second day on Friday (September 8).

Windies ended the day on 93 for 3 in its second innings – a lead of just 22 – with Anderson returning 2 for 17. Shai Hope, who has been Windies’ best batsman this series and had twin centuries in his team’s win in the second Test, was unbeaten on 35 at the close with Roston Chase for company.

After Ben Stokes, who scored a rapid 74-ball 60, and Stuart Broad, who hit 38 in 54 balls, had given England a first-innings lead of 71, it was Anderson who made the breakthrough.

It took Anderson, 35, just 12 deliveries to become only the sixth bowler and third paceman to get to 500 Test wickets when he bowled Kraigg Brathwaite with a superb in-swinger.

The only ones ahead of Anderson are Muttiah Muralitharan (800), Shane Warne (708), Anil Kumble (619), Glenn McGrath (563) and Courtney Walsh (519), with the Lancashire paceman the only active cricketer in the mix.

That made Windies 6 for 1 and that became 21 for 2 when Kyle Hope was lbw to Broad.

Kieran Powell, who made a fine 45, couldn’t do much when Anderson sent one in from around the wickets that speared in towards the stumps only to move away late off a full length and clip the off bail.

Windies were now 69 for 3 in an extended third session under the floodlights after rain earlier in the day. Shai Hope again showed his class after making a stylish 29 in difficult, overcast conditions during Windies’ first innings 123.

Earlier, England finished on 194 after resuming on its overnight 46 for 4.

Stokes, fresh from his Test-best bowling figures of 6 for 22 on Thursday, top-scored even as Kemar Roach took 5 for 72, with Jason Holder following up with 4 for 54.