Stokes inspires brilliant England comeback victory
A double-strike from England allrounder Ben Stokes decisively turned the course of the first Test against India at Edgbaston.
Stokes put a stop to Virat Kohli’s charge towards victory, trapping the India skipper leg before shortly after he had gone to his fifty.
India were looking all set to chase down the 194 runs they needed to win with Kohli on top and the tourists 141 for 6 but Stokes bowled a brilliant in-swinger that hit the batting maestro adjacent to the stumps. Stokes then removed Mohammed Shami (0) without any further addition to the score and the match suddenly swung in the hosts favour.
Earlier in the day James Anderson kept England’s hopes alive with the wicket of overnight batsman Dinesh Karthik (20), who nicked off into the corden.
Scorecard
Adil Rashid’s googly was too good for Ishant Sharma and England were convinced they had their man even if umpire Chris Gaffaney was not, and the review saw the hosts needing just one more wicket to win.
Hardik Pandya (31) could not get India over the line, and trying to get the job done was undone by Stokes who would end as the pick of the England bowlers with figures of 4 for 40.
The match was made by the individual brilliance of Kohli (149 & 51) and the endeavor of England allrounder Sam Curran (24 & 63, 4/74 & 1/18).
England enjoyed the win but celebrations were muted, perhaps an indication that they know the job of winning the series is far from done.
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