England vs India 1st Test: Stokes' 4-wicket haul powers hosts to 31-run win

Birmingham: Sam Curran’s breathtaking 63 in England’s second innings proved pivotal as England beat India by 31 runs to win the Edgbaston Test and took 1-0 lead in the five-match series here on Saturday.

While Virat Kohli brought up his second fifty of the match, Ben Stokes four-wicket haul, including the wicket of Kohli on the fourth day of the match, turned the match in England’s favour as India failed to score 84 runs they needed to win the Test match before the packed Edgbaston stadium.

The day did not really start well for India as James Anderson removed Dinesh Karthik in the first over of the morning. While Hardik Pandya and Kohli managed to hold fort, Stokes' two-wicket maiden, where he dismissed Kohli and Mohammed Shami, broke India's back and set up England's win.

Stokes, who is yet unsure to feature in the Lord's Test, brought an end to Indian chase as he dismissed Pandya to complete England's win.

India 162 all out from 54.2 overs:

WICKET! Edge and taken in the slips! Hardik Pandya is the final man to get out as Ben Stokes gets his fourth wicket to guide England to a 31-run win at Edgbaston.

India 154/9 from 50 overs:

WICKET! Out LBW! Adil Rashid's googly does the trick. Ishant Sharma is out LBW. India 9 down.

India 141/8 from 47 overs:

WOAH, WOAH, WOAH! WICKETS! A big one and then another just to add to India's trouble! Ben Stokes has trapped Virat Kohli plumb in front. The bowling change has done the trick for England. Kohli opts for a review. More in hope than in confidence. Mohammed Shami too departs in the same over.

India 133/6 from 45 overs:

FIFTY! 200 runs up for Virat Kohli in this game. Skipper leading from the front but the job ain't done yet. Can he take India home?

India 112/6 from 37 overs

WICKET! Edge and taken in the slips! Malan holds onto the catch. James Anderson strikes in the first over. Dinesh Karthik perishes in the first over of the morning.

Preview:

84 runs, 5 wickets and a series lead. Saturday, Day four of the first England versus India Test, is set to be a gripping affair as Virat Kohli and Dinesh Karthik take field, resuming day’s play at 110/5, to face the England pace quartet of James Anderson, Stuart Broad, Sam Curran and Ben Stokes here.

While there has not been a scenario of monumental totals, this Test match has so far had everything that a true cricket fan will want to see – a contest between bat and ball where a session of dominance from one team is counter challenged by a session of fightback from the other. A battle of nerves which has made sure that the audience will be glued to their seats.

Although this match is not going to be a five-day affair, unless the weather Gods have some other plans on Day 4, the game has set the ball rolling to one of the most keenly awaited Test series in recent times. And while there’s going to be only one winner, with the draw out of question, as the Indian cricket team coach Ravi Shastri would say on the mic often, “The cricket is the real winner”.

Match-timings:

The match is scheduled to start at 3.30 PM (IST).

Live telecast and live streaming:

The live telecast of the match will be available on Sony Six, Sony Ten 3 and Sony Ten 3 HD while the live streaming of the match will be available on Sony Liv.