Ashes 2023, 1st Test: Australia pulled off a historic 2-wicket win over England in the first Test of the Ashes 2023 on Tuesday in Edgbaston, thanks to an unbeaten 55-run partnership between Pat Cummins and Nathan Lyon for the 8th win.
Persistent rain on day 5 meant only 67 were allowed to bowl with Australia needing 174 runs. England, on the other hand, needed 7 more wickets to win the Test match.
England exhibited a brilliant display of discipline bowling despite little assistance from the surface. It was frustrating for England to see Scot Boland continue to grind in the middle on day 5 before Broad finally had him caught behind in the 38th over.
Travis Head (16) gave some support to Khawaja, thereafter, but Moeen Ali had him caught behind after hitting him two fours in the over. The likes of Cameron Green (28) and Alex Carey (20) also played vital cameos but both of them were guilty of not converting the starts into big scores.
Australia, as a result, kept losing wickets despite the scoreboard ticking. England took the upper hand after Ben Stokes picked the big wickets of Usman Khawaja in the 72nd over.
Cummins, and Nathan Lyon stabilize Australia’s Chase with a winning 55-run Partnership
The England captain bowled a slower delivery and the opener, unfortunately, chopped it onto his stumps. He departed after scoring a sensational knock of 65 off 197 balls, with England still needing 72 more runs to win the match. Carey’s wicket in the 80th over meant England were just 2 wickets short of the famous win.
However, Australian skipper, Pat Cummins and Nathan Lyon had other ideas. Cummins played one of the best knocks of his Test cricket career on Tuesday. He looked focused and played to the merit of the delivery.
The Australian skipper hit 4 fours and 2 sixes during his match-winning unbeaten knock of 44 runs in 73 balls, while Lyon supported him brilliantly with his knock of 16 off 28 balls.
The duo forged a 55-run partnership and helped Australia take a 1-0 lead in the series.
Ashes 2023 1st Test Highlights:
Brief Scores: England 393/8 decl. (Joe Root 112*, Jonny Bairstow 78, Zak Crawley 61; Nathan Lyon 4-149, Josh Hazlewood 2-61) & 273 (Joe Root 46, Harry Brook 46; Pat Cummins 2-63, Nathan Lyon 2-80) lost to Australia 386 (Usman Khawaja 141, Alex Carey 66, Travis Head 50; Ollie Robinson 3-55, Stuart Broad 3-68) & 281/8 (Usman Khawaja 65, Pat Cummins 44; Stuart Broad 3-64, Ollie Robinson 2-43) by 2 wickets
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