INDIA TOUR OF ENGLAND, 2025
Washington removed Stokes at the stroke of Lunch. © Getty
A rain delay pushed back the start of play by 100 minutes on the final day at Edgbaston, but Akash Deep wasted no time once the action resumed, landing early blows to boost India’s hopes of a series-levelling win. England offered resistance through a 70-run sixth wicket stand involving Ben Stokes and Jamie Smith but the wicket of the England captain late in the session brought India a step closer to victory as the hosts went into Lunch on Day 5 of the second Test at 153/6.
Prasidh Krishna and Akash started the proceedings after the delayed start, with the latter bowling from the opposite end from which he bagged two wickets on Day 4. However, Akash found early success from this end too, getting a tentative Ollie Pope to push forward and play one onto the stumps in the fourth over of the day. Prasidh kept it tight from the other end, unlike the first innings, while Akash kept posing questions on the off-stump and outside. But then there was one that jagged in sharply to Harry Brook, trapping him in front, with the umpire’s call going in favour of the bowler.
Akash and Prasidh continued until the drinks break, with the former troubling the batters and the latter keeping it disciplined with his line and length. Meanwhile, Stokes and Smith were building a steady partnership, keeping the Indian pacers at bay while also finding the boundaries. Mohammed Siraj was the first bowling change of the day while Ravindra Jadeja came on from the other end and troubled Stokes by targetting the rough outside off. The England captain nearly gloved one to leg-slip but managed to score off Siraj as the sixth wicket stand reached fifty.
With about 5 minutes left for the break, Washington was introduced and bowled in tandem with Jadeja. The offspinner thought he had Stokes caught down the leg-side but Shubman Gill was averse to a review. But Washington struck soon after, getting Stokes out LBW on the brink of Lunch, with a review failing to come to the aid of the left-hander.
Brief scores: India 587 & 427/6 decl. lead England 407 & 153/6 (Ben Stokes 33, Jamie Smith 32*; Akash Deep 4-58, Washington Sundar 1-2) by 454 runs.
© Cricbuzz
