BIRMINGHAM: Ben Stokes took three wickets on Saturday, including the prize scalp of India captain Virat Kohli, as England won the first Test by 31 runs in a thrilling finish at Edgbaston.

The all-rounder, who could miss next week’s second Test of the five-match series at Lord’s because of a court trial on a charge of affray starting on Monday, took two wickets in an over including that of Kohli.

Stokes ended the match, England’s 1,000th Test, before lunch on day four when he had Hardik Pandya (31) caught at first slip by Alastair Cook, with India bowled out for 162, having been set 194 to win.

Stokes finished with innings figures of four for 40 in 14.2 overs.

However, fellow England all-rounder Sam Curran was named man-of-the-match after starring with both bat and ball.

That England had a target of 194 to defend was largely down to the 20-year-old Curran’s 63, his maiden Test fifty in just his second match at this level rescuing the hosts from the depths of 87 for seven.

Curran’s innings came just a day after the Surrey left-arm swing bowler’s Test-best haul of four for 74 during India’s first innings of 274 that featured a brilliant 149 by Kohli — his maiden Test century in England.

An elated Stokes told Sky Sports: “Virat played a brilliant knock in the first innings but moments like that [getting him out] change games.

“I am proud to be part of this England group. I thought we were a bit behind yesterday [Friday] but for Sam Curran to play the way he did was a real turning point.”

A stunned Curran added: “I can’t take it all in, it is all very special.”

For England captain Joe Root there was the relief of seeing his side win the first Test of a series after a run of three straight defeats in campaign openers against Australia, New Zealand and Pakistan.

“I am thrilled, it was a fantastic team performance,” said Root. “I asked the guys to play with passion and show belief. If we did that, we would give ourselves a chance.”

Meanwhile Kohli urged India to remain ‘positive and fearless’ during the rest of the series.

“It was a great game of cricket and I was glad to be involved in such a fantastic Test match,” said Kohli. “We showed character at times but England were relentless in the areas they hit. Our bowlers were outstanding in the second innings. Hopefully we will build on that. There is no hiding from this game. We have to play positive and fearless.”

Saturday’s play started with the match on a knife edge.

India were 110 for five — still 84 runs shy of victory — with England needing five wickets.

Given the sunny conditions in Birmingham, the only certainty then was the match would finish with more than a day to spare.

Kohli was 43 not out and wicket-keeper Dinesh Karthik unbeaten on 18.

England knew they needed early strikes and James Anderson, their all-time leading Test wicket-taker, duly obliged when he had Karthik (20) caught low down by Dawid Malan at second slip off just the sixth ball of the day.

It was a morale-boosting moment for Malan, who had dropped three slip catches this match, including flooring Kohli on 21 and 51 during the star batsman’s first-innings century.

New batsman Pandya played several solid defensive shots before driving Stuart Broad down the ground for a textbook four.

Kohli then completed an 88-ball fifty when he glanced Anderson down to fine leg, the fourth four of his innings.

India were 141 for six, needing 53 more runs to win, when paceman Stokes had Kohli lbw for 51 with just his third ball of the day.

Kohli reviewed but experienced Pakistan umpire Aleem Dar’s decision was upheld.

Three balls later, Stokes had Mohammed Shami caught behind for a duck and India were 141 for eight, with their hopes of just a seventh win in 58 Tests in England fading fast.

And when Sharma was lbw to leg-spinner Adil Rashid’s googly for 11, India had been reduced to 154 for nine and soon afterwards Pandya nicked Stokes to Cook.

Scoreboard

ENGLAND (1st Innings) 287 (J.E. Root 80, J.M. Bairstow 70, K.K. Jennings 42; R. Ashwin 4-62, Mohammed Shami 3-64).

INDIA (1st Innings) 274 (V. Kohli 149; S.M. Curran 4-74).

ENGLAND (2nd Innings) 180 (S.M. Curran 63; I. Sharma 5-51, R. Ashwin 3-59).

INDIA (2nd Innings, overnight 110-5):

M. Vijay lbw b Broad 6
S. Dhawan c Bairstow b Broad 13
K.L. Rahul c Bairstow b Stokes 13
V. Kohli lbw b Stokes 51
A.M. Rahane c Bairstow b Curran 2
R. Ashwin c Bairstow b Anderson 13
K.D. Karthik c Malan b Anderson 20
H.H. Pandya c Cook b Stokes 31
Mohammed Shami c Bairstow b Stokes 0
I. Sharma lbw b Rashid 11
U.T. Yadav not out 0

EXTRAS (B-1, LB-2) 2

TOTAL (all out, 54.2 overs) 162

FALL OF WKTS: 1-19, 2-22, 3-46, 4-63, 5-78, 6-112, 7-141, 8-141, 9-154.

BOWLING: Anderson 16-2-50-2; Broad 14-2-43-2; Stokes 14.2-40-4; Curran 6-0-18-1; Rashid 4-1-9-1.

RESULT: England won by 31 runs to lead five-match series 1-0.

UMPIRES: Aleem Dar (Pakistan) and C.B. Gaffaney (New Zealand).

TV UMPIRE: M. Erasmus (South Africa).

MATCH REFEREE: J.J. Crowe (New Zealand).

MAN-OF-THE-MATCH: Sam Curran.

SECOND TEST: Lord’s, Aug 9-13.

THIRD TEST: Trent Bridge, Aug 18-22.

FOURTH TEST: Southampton, Aug 30-Sept 3.

FIFTH TEST: The Oval, Sept 7-11.

Published in Dawn, August 5th, 2018