Akash bags six as India crush hosts to seal historic Edgbaston win
India’s maiden win over England at the Edgbaston Cricket Ground in Birmingham will be remembered as one of the best in the nation’s Test cricket history.
With skipper Shubman Gill posting 430 runs, Akash Deep claiming a 10-wicket haul, Ravindra Jadeja standing solid in both the innings and Mohammed Siraj ruling the track with seven wickets, the win will surely stand alongside the Indian team’s astonishing overseas victories. The win came after India lost seven matches and played one draw at the same venue in 58 years. The only draw came in 1986 when Kapil Dev was captain.
On the last day, when India needed seven wickets to record victory, early showers in Birmingham brought some anxious moments for the Indian fans at the Edgbaston Cricket Ground. However, once the sky was clear, it was the turn of Akash to wreck England’s top-order. The right-arm pacer, who was benched in the first Test, supported his skipper in executing England’s downfall.
In typical English weather when heavy cloud cover and subsequent rain made way for bright sunshine, the start was delayed by almost two hours. The forced stoppage left
India with 80 overs to bowl out England, who began the day at 72/3 chasing a mammoth 608.
Skipper Gill picked Akash along with Prasidh Krishna to open the bowling, and the former was on fire with his upright length seam supported by the mild winds in Birmingham. Within seven balls of the start, Akash provided the breakthrough as Ollie Pope (24) played one on to his stumps. In his following over, Akash trapped Harry Brook (23) in front of
the wickets riding on some reverse swing.
Jadeja was brought into the attack and he got the ball to turn from the rough instantly, posing problems for Ben Stokes and Jamie Smith. The England captain however was able to get some much needed runs.
The breakthrough came when Washington Sundar was brought into the attack and the spinner accounted for Stokes. The skipper and Smith had completed a 50-run partnership for the 6th wicket. However, just before lunch, Sundar bowled a drifting ball to the skipper, who completely misjudged it. Stokes did go for the DRS, but after watching the replay, even he couldn’t believe his eyes.
England went into the break at 153/6. After the innings resumed, it was again Akash who led from the front. Prasidh also picked his first wicket of the Test match as Chris Woakes (7) failed to read a good length delivery and tried to play through mid-wicket but only to get the top edge. Brydon Carse (38) did delay the inevitable but was caught by skipper Gill off Akash as India scripted history.
England were challenged to bat against their instincts and hang on for a draw. They lasted 68.1 overs and were bowled out for 271. The margin of defeat would have been far worse were it not for Smith’s unbeaten 88 off 99 balls.
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