BRIDGETOWN: James Anderson claimed an England record-equalling 27th Test five-wicket haul on Thursday as the tourists bowled out the West Indies for 289 in the first Test in Barbados.

England, in reply, lost Keaton Jennings before going for lunch at 3-1.

The West Indies resumed on the second morning at the Kensington Oval on 264-8 after Anderson’s burst with the second new ball had brought about a dramatic collapse on Wednesday.

Shimron Hetmyer added 25 to his overnight score in an enterprising innings before being the last man dismissed by Ben Stokes for 81.

Fast bowler Alzarri Joseph was Anderson’s fifth victim as he edged to Jos Buttler in the slips for a duck, although he crucially survived 22 balls to stick with Hetmyer.

Anderson is now level with Ian Botham on England’s list of most five-wicket hauls after taking 5-46 from 30 overs, while Stokes finished with 4-59.

England picked up four late wickets after the home side had moved to 250-4 as Anderson tore through middle order in a devastating spell, while Stokes chimed in to claim tailender Kemar Roach for a duck with the final ball of the opening day.

Stokes collected two scalps with the old ball, before Anderson struck three times with stumps looming.

The veteran first had Roston Chase caught at first slip for 54, before Shane Dowrich (0) spooned a catch to second slip.

Anderson then snaffled all-rounder Jason Holder caught-and-bowled for five as the large contingent of English fans in the crowd finally found their collective voice.

While it was a promising day for the hosts until the final hour, they could pay the price for the inability of any of their top order to convert good starts into big scores.

Five of their batsmen made at least 40, but none reached 60. Openers John Campbell (44) and Kraigg Brathwaite (40) got the innings underway before Shai Hope (57), Chase (54) and Hetmyer managed half-centuries.

West Indies could have been in an even more dire situation had not Hetmyer been let off on three when dropped at extra cover by Jos Buttler.

The 22-year-old was then rarely troubled again as he took to the England attack, before the visitors’ dragged themselves back in the final hour.

Scoreboard

WEST INDIES (1st Innings, overnight 264-8):

K.C. Brathwaite c Root b Stokes 40 J.D. Campbell lbw b Moeen 44 S.D. Hope c Foakes b Stokes 57 D.M. Bravo lbw b Stokes 2 R.L. Chase c Root b Anderson 54 S.O. Hetmyer c Foakes b Stokes 81 S.O. Dowrich c Buttler b Anderson 0 J.O. Holder c and b Anderson 5 K.A.J. Roach c Root b Stokes 0 A.S. Joseph c Buttler b Anderson 0S.T. Gabriel not out 0EXTRAS (LB-5, NB-1) 6 TOTAL (all out, 101.3 overs) 289FALL OF WKTS: 1-53, 2-126, 3-128, 4-174, 5-240, 6-250, 7-261, 8-264, 9- BOWLING: Anderson 30-13-46-5; Curran 12-3-54-0; Stokes 25.3-2-59-4 (1nb); Moeen Ali 12-1-59-1; Adil Rashid 17-1-56-0; Root 5-0-10-0.

ENGLAND (1st Innings):

R.J. Burns not out 2K.K. Jennings c Hope b Holder 17J.M. Bairstow not out 2 EXTRAS (B-4, LB-5) 9 TOTAL (for one wkt, 11 overs) 30FALL OF WKT: 1-23.TO BAT: J.E. Root, B.A. Stokes, J.C. Buttler, Moeen Ali, B.T. Foakes, S.M. Curran, Adil Rashid, J.M. Anderson.
BOWLING (to-date): Roach 3-2-4-0; Gabriel 5-1-11-0; Holder 3-0-6-1.

Published in Dawn, January 25th, 2019