England vs India, 5th Test – Match Highlights
The 5th Test match of the Series England vs India fit the bill of a blockbuster, since it was the final game of a long series that both teams had been a part of. Both teams had a lot of expectations from the game, and it was held at Edgbaston, Birmingham which is a reputed cricket stadium. As always, it had an exquisite mix of extraordinary cricketing skill, remarkable feats of sportsmanship, nail-biting drama, and a little bit of tug of war which is the hallmark of a Test match. In the following segments, I will highlight the critical moments, exceptional feats, and everything that makes this match so special and gives it a place in the mimicry of cricketing history.
Day 1 – England Strike Early, India Fights Back
With having the ability to win the toss and India eliminated to Bat first, England managed to gain early momentum with the new ball courtesy of a new ball with James Anderson. India had to pay the price, with Shubman Gill and Cheteshwar Pujara not having a single clue on how to deal with the ball. As a result, India was down to 98/5 at Lunch. From that point forward, the game single handedly went out of England’s hands at this point in the game. As always, India’s lower order batters came out to perform, with a brilliant partnership that not many cricket fans saw coming. In the end, India managed to reach a reasonable 416. With regards to England, a mere partnership was the turning point in their innings, and with India sitting at 5/84 at the end of the first day, it was only their bowlers in the dominating position.
Day 2 – Bairstow’s Brilliance Salvages England
His 106 run innings single handedly gave England an edge and eased some of the pressure placed on them as he counter-attacked in the form of his life once again. The counter-attacking innings brought forth not just England’s innings but also brought them back in the game as he shifted some pressure back on the Indians. While England was still dealing with the loss of big batsmen, Billings played some clean shots along with the tailenders to make sure 284 was the number on the scoreboard.
All combined contributions instead of individual greatness was the template for the Indians in their second inning. The day ended with the Indians sitting comfortably at 125 for the loss of 3 wickets.
Day 3 – India’s Lead Grows, Potent Bowling Seals the Day
The second innings of the game was started with Pujaar who was joined by Shreyas Iyer and Rishabh Pant contributing to the score of 245. England set a target of 378 to win, England were staring down a near-unassailable deficit.
The rest of the innings were all England at the head of the game. The attack was underway, as was the hostile and clasp game on them for the period of coming for almost an unhappy period. The opening pair of Lees and Crawley had brought the lead down to under 275 by stumps and the scoreboard was settled at a greatly advantageous position.
Day 4 – Historic Chase Takes Shape (England vs India)
Day 4 marked a new bold move in Test cricket history for England. Their approach to the game and India’s bowling order was unlike any other. Root’s 142 not out and Jonny Bairstow’s 114 not out was enough to anchor the innings and guide the team to a successful chase. England’s batsmen ripped apart India’s bowling order and ran between the wickets with great pace.
No matter what India did to break the pair’s rhythm, the England batsmen were simply unstoppable. England not only reached the target of 378, but also achieved it with 7 wickets to spare. This performance stood as a testament to England’s new philosophy after coach Brendon McCullum, known as “Bazball,” took charge of the team.
For fans looking to intensify the experience, using an online cricket ID gives the opportunity to look at the stats, score, and receive live commentary. From crucial milestones to the action of the game itself, having reliable resources brings even more excitement to cricket.
In the last Test, England and India’s cricketing rivalry reached a new stage in what was, for the fans, a highly anticipated next step. The game instead of focusing on only winning, focused on character and tactics which made the game even more interesting.
