Australia made a winning start to the prestigious five-Test Ashes series against England. He won by two wickets in the first match played at Edgbaston. England had given the Kangaroos a target of 281 runs to win. The Australian team won the match based on the combative batting of captain Pat Cummins and Nathan Lyon. Both shared a 55-run partnership for the ninth wicket and won the team. Australia is now ahead 1-0 in the series.
England captain Ben Stokes won the toss and decided to bat. Taking a bold decision, he declared the innings when the team scored 393 runs for eight wickets. After this the Australian team was reduced to 386 runs. England got a seven-run lead in the first innings. He scored 273 runs in the second innings and set Australia a total of 281 runs. The Kangaroo team won the match in the last session on the last day.
174 runs were to be scored on the fifth day
Australia scored 107 runs for three wickets on the fourth day of the match. Then Scott Boland was unbeaten with Usman Khawaja. The Kangaroo team had to score 174 runs to win on the fifth day. Late rain interrupted play and the start of play was delayed. The umpires reduced the day's scheduled 90 overs to 67 overs. Now Australia had to score 174 runs in 67 overs. He had seven wickets in hand.
Australia kept falling wickets at regular intervals on the fifth day
Scott Boland was the first batsman to be dismissed on the fifth day. He was caught by Stuart Broad at the hands of Bairstow. Boland scored 20 runs. After him, world number three batsman Travis Head, who scored a half-century in the first innings, became the victim of Moeen Ali by scoring 16 runs. Cameron Green was bowled by Robinson after scoring 28 runs. After that, Ben Stokes put Australia under pressure by bowling Usman Khawaja. Khawaja had scored a century in the first innings. He scored 65 runs in the second innings. After Khawaja, Alex became the victim of Joe Root by scoring 20 runs.
Cummins-Lyon won after eight wickets fell
Australia's score at one time was 227 runs for eight wickets. Here he had to score 54 runs to win. With only two wickets left in hand, it seemed that England would win. From here, captain Pat Cummins along with Lyon took the innings forward and won the team. Cummins scored an unbeaten 44 off 73 balls. He hit four fours and two sixes. Nathan Lyon scored an unbeaten 16 off 28 balls. He hit two fours.
In the second innings for England, Stuart Broad took three wickets and Ollie Robinson took two wickets. Moeen Ali, Joe Root, and Ben Stokes got one success each. Usman Khawaja was adjudged Player of the Match. The second match of the series will be played at Lord's from 28 June.
(pc amarujala)
