The Day 5 of Edgbaston Test promised thrills and chills and it was nothing short of it. After rain played spoilsport and the first session of Day 5 was washed out, the players were out in the field with overcast conditions making the contest even. Many expected it to be a nail-biter like the one in iconic Ashes 2005 series and it perfectly lived up to the expectations. But this time it was Australia that emerged victoriously by two wickets. Pat Cummins and Nathan Lyon defied Stokes’ tactics and played the waiting game perfectly to guide Australia to a two-wicket win in the last half an hour of Day 5. With a narrow win, Cummins also avenged the two-run defeat in Edgbaston which left Brett Lee distraught.
One wicket in 1st session
Day 5 started with Usman Khawaja and Scott Boland being cautious against England pacers in overcast conditions. The first boundary off the day came via leg byes. Once again, it was Stuart Broad who got the breakthrough. He got rid of nightwatchman Boland who contributed with a crucial 20 off 40 balls. In the first hour, not a single boundary came off the bat.
After the drinks break, Travis Head scored the first boundary but he was nowhere near controlling it. In the next over, he hit Moeen Ali for two fours. But Ali had the last laugh as Head nicked one to slip fielder Joe Root. Head scored 16 runs from 24 balls. Cameron Green got off the mark with a boundary but it was not a convincing one. Khawaja scored his first boundary of the day off Ali. He got to his half-century from 146 deliveries. Green and Khawaja did not let a wicket fall in the session. Australia added 74 more runs during the passage of play.
Wickets tumble
After the tea break, Ollie Robinson got the breakthrough. Playing close to the body, Green inside-edged it to the stumps and got bowled. He scored 28 runs from 66 balls. Alex Carey got to the crease and picked up his first boundary off Ali. Then Ben Stokes introduced himself into the attack. In his second over, the leg-cutter got the better of Khawaja as he inside edged it onto his stumps. Khawaja scored 65 runs from 197 balls including seven fours.
Joe Root was given a long spell and he almost got the wicket of Carey on follow-through. A couple more boundaries were scored but Stokes gave Root another chance and chose against taking the new ball straightaway. Root delivered in the 81st over as Carey danced down the track to hit him down the ground. Root took an exceptional catch off his own bowling to get the big wicket. He scored 20 runs from 50 balls.
Cummins, Lyon pull off herculean task
After Carey's wicket, Australia were 227/8 with 64 more runs to win. It seemed like the game was done and dusted but Cummins led from the front with the bat. But Stokes' plan not to take new ball backfired. After the drinks break, Cummins hit Root for two sixes in the 14-run over. Even after that, Stokes did not take the new ball. Broad came back into the attack and bowled short to Lyon. The tailender pulled and Stokes almost pulled off a one-handed stunner but it went down. A boundary off the same over from Cummins' bat rubbed salt on England's wounds.
Stokes opted for the new ball and brought back Robinson. With 30 more runs left, he was cautious and had an attacking field set. Lyon surprised Broad with a boundary down the ground. He did not take the tailender tag seriously and straight-batted balls that looked threatening. The pressure got to Zak Crawley as he let one slider past by on the boundary. Broad tried to attack Lyon but the latter was up for the challenge and flicked it over mid-on for a boundary. After few quiet overs, Cummins refused to give in and finished the run chase with a boundary followed by exuberant celebrations as the visitors took 1-0 lead in Ashes 2023.
The story of first four days
Earlier, on Day 1, Stokes won the toss and opted to bat first. England batters stayed true to the 'Bazball' approach despite wickets falling. Root's unbeaten 118 and half-centuries from Crawley, Bairstow helped Australia post 393/8 before Stokes declared. In reply, Khawaja led the charge with his 141-run knock. He was supported by half-centuries from Head and Carey as Australia posted 386, just seven runs deficit of home team’s score. In the second innings, three England batters got out in 40s but they scored quickly and posted 273 on the board to set a 281-run target. Cummins and Lyon picked up four wickets each to keep the target within reach.
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