Anderson back in action as England draw

England fast bowler James Anderson bowled 11 overs and picked up a wicket on Wednesday in his first outing after more than four months out of action because of injury. Chris Woakes was England's most successful bowler, taking three for 48 as tourists bowled out a Cricket South Africa Invitation XI for 289 on second day of a n-first-class two-day match at Willowmoore Park.  England, leading by 20 runs on first innings, declined chance to bat again as match ended in a draw.

"It was a good run-out for us," said Woakes, who took all three of his wickets in of 11 balls after lunch.

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Anderson back in action

Anderson, who suffered a calf injury after bowling four overs in first Test against Australia at Edgbaston in August, bowled two spells. He sent down six overs with new ball, conceding 30 runs, and a more impressive five-over spell after lunch when he took one for seven. Anderson ended a 131-run third-wicket stand between Kabelo Sekhukhune (65) and Jacques Snyman (79) when he had Sekhukhune caught behind. Woakes followed up with his three-wicket burst, using short ball effectively.

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"It was a different role, really, bowling a few bouncers. wicket wasn't responding too much from a length, so at lunchtime we felt we had to change it up a bit, find different ways to get wickets." 

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Three of England's front-line bowlers - Jofra Archer, Stuart Broad, and Jack Leach - did t travel to Beni because of illness. All-rounder Ben Stokes was t part of match squad after only arriving on Tuesday but took field as a substitute fielder and held a catch. England will play a three-day first-class match against South Africa A at same venue, starting on Friday. first Test starts in Centurion on December 26.

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