India conquer Edgbaston: Out-bat, out-bowl, and out-skill the Bazballers; level series 1–1
TimesofIndia.com in Birmingham: Arms spread wide, Akash Deep stood near the pitch as
Shubman Gill
completed the catch to seal India's thumping 336-run win at Edgbaston. It was a fitting end: Akash Deep took the wicket, and Shubman Gill caught it.
The duo had inspired India to stage a comeback and level the Anderson–Tendulkar Trophy series 1–1.
There were hugs all around, and Gill, Akash, and
Mohammed Siraj
made sure to pick up a stump each as memorabilia from the famous win in which they formed the winning combination. The young brigade was enjoying their moment in the middle after slogging it out for five long days—a true test of their character. They didn't have Jasprit Bumrah, but Akash Deep ensured they didn't miss him, returning with a match haul of ten wickets.
Siraj was very happy for his teammate, as the two shared a long and warm hug before posing for the photographers.
It was then Arshdeep Singh's turn to help Akash find the right pose for the click.
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It was a weird routine at the start of the final day's play, as it was delayed due to persistent rain. One would look at the watch to calculate the minutes lost, look up to see if more rain was in store, and all the while Harry Brook's warning to Shubman Gill on Day 4 kept ringing in the ears.
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'450 declare? Shubman, it's raining tomorrow. Half day. Afternoon, it's raining,' Brook was heard saying on the stump mic.
The Indian captain remained a picture of concentration during that period, as the visitors were clearly looking to push the win out of England's reach. What looked like a job well done, especially after three quick wickets, increasingly gave the feeling of a delayed declaration as it continued to pour on the morning of the final day.
Dark clouds loom over Edgbaston cricket ground as players train before the start of play on day five of the second cricket test match between England and India in Birmingham (AP Photo/Scott Heppell)
India had to pick seven wickets. The sky was all grey, but the downpour kept the two teams indoors and delayed the start. The weather, however, dramatically cleared, and the bright sunshine allowed play to resume an hour and forty minutes later than the scheduled start, with a maximum of 80 overs to be bowled.
The equation was very simple for Gill & Co.: pick seven wickets and hope they came with the harder ball. It had been very evident across the last four days that it was a new-ball bowling pitch, and whatever happened off the surface, happened when the ball was still hard and new.
Batting was relatively comfortable with the softer ball, and both teams feasted during that passage of play.
India's Akash Deep (AP Photo/Scott Heppell)
With more rain forecast and the ineffectiveness of the old ball staring them in the face, India had to unleash their A-game with the ball in the first hour of play—and they did exactly that. It was that man Akash Deep again who made the early inroads with two quick wickets, and Washington Sundar later broke a frustrating stand between Ben Stokes and Jamie Smith right on the stroke of lunch to help India sniff a famous win.
READ ALSO:
Akash Deep: The boy from Sasaram, who made England dance to his tunes at Edgbaston
Mere formalities were left after that, as India were into the England tail and even the dark grey sky didn't dampen their spirits. With attacking fields, they kept running in hard and picked the last four wickets to complete their first win at Edgbaston and level the five-Test series 1–1. They had come close in Leeds—very close in Leeds—but were unable to seize the crucial moments with both bat and ball.
Edgbaston was different, as they not only out-batted the opposition but out-skilled them with the ball and had the temperament to control the moments they missed in Leeds, setting up a mouth-watering contest at the Home of Cricket, starting in four days' time.
For real-time updates, scores, and highlights, follow our live coverage of the
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