James Anderson and England frustrated by West Indies partnership

James Anderson and England were frustrated by a West Indies fightback in the afternoon session as the home side reached 268-6 at tea on day five of the first Test in Antigua.

A 79-run partnership between the West Indies Test and ODI captains, Denesh Ramdin (48no) and Jason Holder (48no) kept England at bay, after Jermaine Blackwood (31) fell to Chris Jordan early in the session.

Anderson – in his 100th Test – bowled four wicketless overs for 20 runs with the second new ball meaning his wait for the one remaining wicket he needs to pass Sir Ian Botham as England’s to Test wicket-taker goes on.

Anderson had earlier equalled the record as the West Indies lost three key wickets to slip to 162-5 before lunch.

The session had started well for England, Jordan tempting first innings centurion Blackwood into a rash hoick across the line, inside edging it to Jos Buttler behind the stumps.

Blackwood had signalled his attacking intent early in the session, taking a particular liking to James Tredwell, tonking him for a couple of fours down the ground, and back-to-back boundaries in another over.

But it was one shot too many from him, irresponsibly dancing down the pitch to Jordan, departing in the final over before the new ball was due.

England sensed an opening with the tail exposed and on back came Anderson with the new ball taken.

But Ramdin and Holder not only kept England at bay but scored at a shade under four an over, particularly frustrating Stuart Broad at the other end as Holder pulled one which fell just short of Jonathan Trott in the deep.

A prodded edge fell from Holder off Broad also fell short, of the slips this time, and brought an agitated yelp from the Nottinghamshire bowler.

They saw out the remainder of the session as England turned back to Tredwell, Jordan and Ben Stokes but couldn’t make a breakthrough.

Before lunch it looked like England were cruising to victory with the key wickets of Devon Smith (65), Marlon Samuels (23) and Shiv Chanderpaul (13) all accounted for.

Anderson, moved level with Botham on 383 wickets when Samuels edged to Tredwell in the gully.

The wicket was the second of the day to fall after Smith was drawn into a rash stroke by Tredwell, picking out Gary Ballance at mid-on.

Joe Root, who removed Darren Bravo on day four courtesy of a superb slip catch by Chris Jordan, claimed his second scalp of the innings just before lunch, as Chanderpaul was trapped lbw in front of his stumps.

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