England vs West Indies: James Anderson takes two as hosts close on big win – BBC Sport

After an opening day of ceremony for Anderson and excitement surrounding the seven-wicket haul of Gus Atkinson, Thursday was relatively low key, with England not having to be at their best to take an iron grip on the contest.

Lord’s was splashed with red for the Ruth Strauss Foundation and the fireworks that shot into the sky before play were the only pyrotechnics on display until Smith opened his shoulders late in England’s innings.

After England began on 189-3, leading by 68, West Indies had a poor first hour, but improved after Brook was dismissed to work through the home batting.

England actually lost their last seven wickets for 127 runs, the highlight of which was Mikyle Louis running out Shoaib Bashir with a direct hit from 40 yards, then setting off on a sprinting celebration that culminated with a hug with his brother Jeremiah, who is also in the West Indies squad.

West Indies began their second innings straight after tea and, at 37-4, there was a genuine prospect of the first two-day Test on this ground since 1888.

Athanaze, Holder and Joshua da Silva did just enough to drag the match into a third day, but surely nothing will prevent England going 1-0 up in the three-match series.

Smith has taken over behind the stumps from his county team-mate Ben Foakes, who is Surrey’s first-choice keeper and arguably the best gloveman in the world.

England have seen Smith’s potential to bat in different gears, particularly attacking when left with the tail and, on the day before his 24th birthday, he hinted at vindicating their decision.

Brook played nicely before flapping at an Alzarri Joseph bouncer, not the first time he has been undone by short bowling, and Stokes registered his fifth successive single-figure score in Tests with a poor shot at a very good delivery from left-arm spinner Gudakesh Motie.

Smith found an even tempo with Root, who was also bowled by the impressive Motie, then after Chris Woakes and Atkinson fell in quick succession to the second new ball, he cut loose.

Favouring the mid-wicket region and keen to use his feet, Smith hit each of Shamar Joseph and Jayden Seales over the leg side for six, the latter an enormous blow on to the roof of the Tavern Stand. From having 30 off his first 47 balls, he took 40 off his next 42.

In all, England added 28 runs for the final two wickets, though only Smith scored any runs off the bat until he was well held at deep square leg by Kirk McKenzie to give Seales his fourth wicket.

Emerging at number 11, Anderson was given a standing ovation as he made his way to the middle, then even led the players off despite not facing a ball. His unbeaten nought was his 114th not-out in Test cricket, 53 more than anyone else has managed and another of his records that is unlikely to ever be broken.

Soon after he was into a typically brilliant opening spell from the Pavilion End, nipping the ball down the slope and through Brathwaite’s defence. Anderson’s first spell of five overs contained four maidens.

Woakes was down on pace and gave way to Stokes, who needed only three deliveries to pin McKenzie leg-before for his 200th Test wicket, a milestone that seemed unlikely during his long struggle with a left-knee injury.

It made the skipper only the third man in Test cricket, after all-time greats Sir Garfield Sobers and Jacques Kallis, to complete the double of 6,000 runs and 200 wickets, and he celebrated by having Louis caught behind.

Atkinson continued his fine game by having Kavem Hodge chop on. Athanaze was defying England in the gloom until he became yet another victim that Anderson has suckered into an edge.

Holder faced 59 deliveries for his 20 only to fend Atkinson to short leg from the last ball of the day, leaving Da Silva on eight and Anderson poised to say goodbye.