Birmingham, Aug 4: Ben Stokes produced a brilliant effort with the ball to help England beat India by 31 runs in a closely fought-first Test match here on Saturday (August 4) that lasted four days. With this win, England have gone 1-0 up in the five-match series.
India had a mountain to climb when they came out to chase the remaining 84 runs on the morning of the fourth day, but they could only add 52 more runs to their overnight total and eventually fell short.
Hardik Pandya (31) was the final wicket to perish as no other batsman barring Kohli (51) and him rose to the occasion in the run chase which was always going to be an uphill task for the visitors.
Oh yes..we nearly overlooked it was England’s 1000th Test Match ...so winning was the icing on the cake fr England.! Congrats England..& well begun in the Pataudi Trophy series.!!
— Bishan Bedi (@BishanBedi) August 4, 2018
It was virtually Kohli versus England and when the Indian captain was trapped lbw off Ben Stokes in the 47th over, the absorbing game was only heading the home team's way. Resuming on overnight 110 for five, India folded up for 162 in 54.2 overs despite Kohli's combative 51 off 93 balls and Hardik Pandya's 31.
England win the 1st Test by 31 runs.#ENGvIND pic.twitter.com/v6IVoAhbXE
— BCCI (@BCCI) August 4, 2018
All-rounder Stokes (4-40) came to the party on the morning of day four by removing Kohli and Mohammad Shami in the same over. James Anderson (2-50) and Stuart Broad (2-43) took a brace each as England drew first blood in what promises to be an engrossing five-match series.
Feel very sad fr @imVkohli ..he did the maximum on either side & still finished up losing..he worked so hard on the ball leaving him that he might’ve forgot there’s an indipper as well..clearly a case of so near yet so far..!Both teams appear to carry fair amount of deadwood.??!
— Bishan Bedi (@BishanBedi) August 4, 2018
The Indian bowlers did their job in both the innings but the batsmen, with the exception of Kohli, let the team down again. The second Test begins at Lord's on August 9. The sun was out at Edgbaston but the ball was doing enough to trouble the batsmen.
An alarming situation for India. Three of the four lowest targets they failed to chase have come in the last three years. 176 in Galle, 194 in Birmingham today and 208 in Cape Town. #EngvInd
— Mazher Arshad (@MazherArshad) August 4, 2018
India got off to a poor start as Dinesh Karthik (20) fell on the sixth ball of the day, caught at second slip off Anderson. It brought Pandya to the crease, but Kohli was not yet ready to farm strike and trusted his partner.
It meant that Pandya hogged the majority of the deliveries early in their partnership, but the skipper didn't mind. Kohli only faced six balls in the first 15 minutes of play, but Pandya grew in confidence as the duo put on 29 runs for the seventh wicket as he struck some lusty blows off Broad.
The skipper reached his 17th Test half-century off 88 balls. Thanks to those boundaries off Pandya, the bowling changes came and they worked for England. In the 47th over then, Stokes trapped Kohli lbw as the batsman moved too far forward and across to counter the incoming delivery.
The skipper did check for DRS review but it went in England's favour. Surprisingly, Shami (0) came out to bat next and Stokes made it a double blow in four balls as the batsman was caught behind. Ishant Sharma (11), who has a county half-century this summer, came down as low as number ten and looked more comfortable than Shami immediately.
Two fours off his blade meant that England had to rethink their plans once again. Adil Rashid (1-9) then was brought on after the drinks break and for the second time in this Test, he trapped Sharma lbw with a googly.
In a topsy-turvy game, England held their nerve to come out victorious in their 1000th Test! 👏
— SPN- Sports (@SPNSportsIndia) August 4, 2018
An amazing start to the Test series. 😍#KyaHogaIssBaar #ENGvIND #SPNSports pic.twitter.com/jojlBDoqdT
At nine down, it was but a matter of time even as Pandya tried to stay at the wicket and fight until the very end. He tried rotating the strike with Umesh Yadav and attacked Rashid as well. But Stokes, who might not play the second Test owing to his court case, managed to nick out the edge England wanted.
Pandya was caught at first slip to signal India's defeat in a seesawing Test. On day one, Joe Root's 80 runs helped England score 287 runs in their first innings.
On day two, Kohli scored a masterful 22nd Test hundred to rescue India from 169-7 as they finished with 274 in reply. On day three, Ishant's 5-51 saw England bowled out for 180 runs and setting up a 194-run target.
How it happened:
It's all over! India have been bundled out for 162 in their chase of 194 in the final innings. England have registered a fantastic win to go 1-0 up in the five match series.
All over. Great Test match, some superb performances by India -- Kohli, Ashwin, Ishant. But England deserving winners for better batting effort in a low scoring game, and holding their nerve when the chips were down
— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) August 4, 2018
Ishant Sharma has been fined 15% of his match fees and has also received one demerit point after being found guilty of a Level 1 breach of ICC Code of Conduct for Players & Player Support Personnel during third day’s play in the first Test against England at Edgbaston on Friday.
Wicket! Ishant Sharma departs for 11 as he fails to read the googly from Rashid. India are nine down now. England had to review that one as the umpire had turned down their appeal.
What a pity it was eventually only about Kohli. But Pandya is making a case for himself at no 6. Which is where he has to be if he has to be a regular test player.
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) August 4, 2018
Some really lucky moments for Ishant Sharma as he gets two boundaries off Stokes. India reach - 152/8. Stokes also tries to distract Pandya as he has started chirping and using verbal volleys.
Stokes steals the show!
STOKES. GETS. KOHLI.
— ICC (@ICC) August 4, 2018
The Indian captain gets to fifty but then he's pinned in front, and not even a review can't save him. Soon after he gets Mohammed Shami, and England are two away.#ENGvIND LIVE 👇https://t.co/jre8L0pd2t pic.twitter.com/Eya8o783Mz
Wicket! Mohammed Shami too walks back for duck. Ben Stokes is on fire as the all-rounder has got two in this over. India are 141/8.
Edgbaston “It’s coming home” for England...the knife has gone deeper. #ENDvIND
— Alan Wilkins (@alanwilkins22) August 4, 2018
Wicket! Ben Stokes has got the BIG man! Kohli is trapped in front for 51 and India's hopes are all but dashed. India - 141/7 now.
FIFTY! Virat Kohli brings up his 17th Test half-century with a boundary down the leg side and he continues leading from the front.
.@imVkohli Kohli gets to yet another hard-fought fifty. 👍
— SPN- Sports (@SPNSportsIndia) August 4, 2018
Can he take his side home?#KyaHogaIssBaar #ENGvIND LIVE on SONY SIX and SONY TEN 3. #SPNSports pic.twitter.com/ZmZtwhI3Cj
Hardik Pandya's test of patience!
Already the most patient innings Pandya has ever played...
— George Dobell (@GeorgeDobell1) August 4, 2018
Nick Compton's observation about Indians' batting skills.
To all my Indian friends... I said it last year and you weren’t happy but I will say it again - India’s batting techniques against a slightly moving ball are nothing short of woeful (bar Kohli of course) #ENGvIND
— Nick Compton (@thecompdog) August 4, 2018
Match Resumes and India lose their sixth wicket in the very first over! James Anderson gets Karthik caught at slip cordon by Malan. His innings comes to an end for 20. India - 112/6 in 37 overs.
Great low slip catch from Malan. He needed that and says a lot about his mental strength. India 112-6. Cracking atmosphere at Edgbaston even though not full
— Nick Hoult (@NHoultCricket) August 4, 2018
Kohli practices!
All eyes on #KingKohli#ENGvIND pic.twitter.com/A7fBhxrZP5
— BCCI (@BCCI) August 4, 2018
Harbhajan praises India's bowling!
WATCH: @harbhajan_singh was all praise for the bowling attack that took 20 wickets in the first Test. Also, he had some special words of praise for captain @imVkohli - by @RajalArora #TeamIndia #ENGvIND
— BCCI (@BCCI) August 4, 2018
Full Video here---> https://t.co/9M1cWQahny pic.twitter.com/NB0XsritM8
Broad speaks his heart out!
I believe! 🏴🏏
— Stuart Broad (@StuartBroad8) August 3, 2018
What a Test Match.#England #India #Cricket @ Edgbaston Cricket Ground https://t.co/PTJrySuC7H
Who's going to win?
Feels today's proceedings in Edgbaston will be more an encore of Barbados 2018 than Barbados 1992.🤞#ENGvIND
— Deepu Narayanan (@deeputalks) August 4, 2018
Kohli or Anderson?
Kohli's raging bat or Anderson's late swing, what's your pick today?
— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) August 4, 2018