Jamie Smith offered admirable final-day resistance, but India’s superb bowlers completed a thumping 336-run victory over England in the second Test at Edgbaston to level the series at 1-1.
The hosts largely put aside their attacking instincts, ignoring their target of 608, but were bowled out for 271 with 27 overs left on day five as they attempted to salvage a draw.
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In a fine spell of seam bowling after heavy morning rain, Akash Deep had Ollie Pope playing onto his stumps in the third over and then produced a wicked nipbacker to pin Harry Brook lbw for 23.
After Ben Stokes fell in the final over before lunch, ending a partnership lasting 115 balls with Smith, England’s wicketkeeper threw some counter-punches to follow his first-innings 184 not out with 88.
But, having hit four sixes, he holed out on the hook to give the irresistible Deep his first five-wicket haul in his eighth Test.
Amid a sea of Indian support, Deep took the final wicket of Brydon Carse to finish with 6-99 and 10 in the match.
India, whose chances were doubted after England’s fine win in Headingley last week, leave Birmingham with their first Test victory at Edgbaston at the ninth attempt.
It also brilliantly sets up the remainder of the series, which continues at Lord’s on Thursday.
Akash Deep took the final wicket for India (Photo: Getty Images)
Deep too good for England
The day eventually began at 12:40 after rain. Within half an hour, Pope and Brook were back in the shed having been dismissed by Deep.
He was left out for the first Test, but looks likely to play a major part in the series with his relentlessly accurate seam bowling.
Pope was slightly unfortunate to get a ball that bounced to hit his arm and deflect onto his stumps. Brook was helpless when Deep got the ball to jag back from outside off stump.
At one stage Stokes faced 23 dot balls in a row- the clearest sign of England’s intent.
Had he reached lunch, England may have had an outside chance but off-spinner Washington Sundar snuck one onto his pad as the England captain’s struggles against spin- and poor run against India- continued.
Only after easing to 50 from 73 balls did Smith show any real intent. A partnership with Chris Woakes lasted 70 deliveries until Woakes top-edged trying to pat the ball into the leg side.
After that Smith, as he did in the first innings, took on the short-ball ploy. Deep was hit for two sixes but when Smith swung hard for a third time he was caught at deep-square leg, at which point England’s race was run.
Tongue was the victim of Siraj’s catch at mid-wicket while Carse and Shoaib Bashir had some fun in a 25-ball stand of 23 that included as many edges as boundaries from the middle.
Carse was eventually caught top-edging a swipe to cover, sealing a win for India that, given the margin and way they threw away a winning position at Leeds last week, must rank as one of India’s best wins on English soil.
It is also their first with Gill as captain. (BBC)
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