Published: May 18, 2013, 03:13 PM (IST)
Edited: May 18, 2013, 03:13 PM (IST)
James Anderson picked up three wickets and joined the 300-wicket club against New Zealand at Lord’s © Getty Images
London: May 18, 2013
James Anderson took his 300th Test wicket and then ended a bold counter-attack by New Zealand’s Ross Taylor as England fought back in the first Test at Lord’s.
The two players lit up a Lord’s bathed in artificial floodlight to counter the overhead gloom of Friday’s second day which ended with New Zealand 153 for four in reply to England‘s first innings 232, a deficit of 79 runs.
Anderson took the first three wickets to fall, reducing the Black Caps to seven for two before dismissing Taylor for a scintillating 66.
The 30-year-Anderson, in his 81st match at this level, did not have long to wait for his 299th Test wicket after taking the new ball.
One ball after Hamish Rutherford had cover-driven him for four, Anderson squared him up with an outswinger and England captain Alastair Cook, diving to his right, held an excellent low catch at first slip.
Anderson struck again when Peter Fulton, the tourists other opener, nicked a good length ball low to second slip Graeme Swann as the Lancashire seamer became only the fourth England bowler after Fred Trueman, Bob Willis and Ian Botham to take 300 Test wickets.
Brief scores:
England 232 (Jonny Bairstow 41, Joe Root 40; Tim Southee 4 for 58, Neil Wagner 3 for 70) lead New Zealand 153 for 4 (Ross Taylor 66, Kane Williamson 44*; James Anderson 3 for 32) by 79 runs.
Catch live scores and ball-by-ball commentary of the first Test match England vs New Zealand here
