Australia beat England by two wickets to win first Ashes Test
Australia sealed a remarkable two-wicket victory over England in a thrilling climax to gripping five-day battle in the opening Ashes Test at Edgbaston in the city Birmingham.
The visitors, set a 281victory target, began a rain-delayed day on 107 for three but their change looked remote when they were reduced to 227-8.
But Australia captain Pat Cummins, in partnership with Nathan Lyon, launched a fightback and sealed victory on Tuesday with an unbeaten 44.
In suffocating tension and with every ball like a mini-drama, Cummins struck the final boundary thanks to a fumble by Harry Brook to give his side a 1-0 lead in the series.
Unflappable Australia opening batsman Usman Khawaja had earlier kept his team on course for victory with a gritty innings to edge the visitors towards the target.
But in a barn-storming match full of momentum shifts, the pendulum swung England’s way when Khawaja was bowled by England skipper Ben Stokes for 65.
When Joe Root held a caught-and-bowled chance to remove Alex Carey, England seemed to be close to victory, But Cummins refused to buckle, hitting Root’s off-spin for two sixes in one over as England delayed taking the new ball.
Despite losing in ‘BazBall’ style, attack-minded England has shown almost anything can now happen in test cricket under Stokes’ captaincy.
As it was, England met an Australia team prepared to meet fire with ice and a captain embodying this in Cummins.
The tourists scored at 3.2 runs per over to the home side’s 4.61 and you have to go back to 1904, when England “2.30” beat Australia “3.81” at Melbourne, for the only time the difference was greater.
Sources: News Agencies