While Ben Stokes has made the strongest impression on this match so far, it was given an indelible mark on the second evening as James Anderson became the first Englishman to reach 500 Test wickets. Stokes’ six-for had upstaged his team-mate in West Indies’ first innings and he continued to shape events around him as England gained a 71-run first-innings lead – but Anderson was immediately to the fore as the tourists batted again.
Anderson Takes 500th Test Wicket but WI keep battling – England v West Indies 3rd Test Day 2 2017
By the close on another rain-swept, shortened day, West Indies had wiped out the deficit for the loss of three wickets. Kieran Powell, who seemed set to capitalise on the latest drop in a series of fallible catching, was the third to fall as Anderson returned for a second spell and produced an unplayable bail-trimmer to end a 48-run partnership with Shai Hope. With the pitch continuing to offer assistance to the seamers, the deciding Investec Test was tantalisingly poised.