AUSTRALIA have won the first Test of the Ashes by two wickets in a thrilling finale at Edgbaston.
England looked to have put themselves in command with some key wickets in the final session but a brilliant rearguard action by tailenders Pat Cummins and Nathan Lyon saw the Aussies scramble to victory.
Pat Cummins scored the winning runs for Australia
Cummins and Nathan Lyon were the heroes for the Aussies
England only needed two wickets to win
Joe Root took a stunning catch to dismiss Alex Carey
Usman Khawaja proved to be a tricky customer until Ben Stokes got him out
The fifth day started late due to rain in Birmingham with both sides chasing realistic targets as England needed just seven wickets while Australia chased a target of 281.
Ben Stokes‘ side gave put themselves into a decent position at Edgbaston after taking three important wickets late on in the fourth day after being bowled out of their second innings.
As England made a slow start to get wickets, Australia slowly crept towards the total as Usman Khawaja stuck in.
The batting side saw nightwatch man Scott Boland and Cameron Green fall before he was eventually dismissed by Stokes on 65.
This left the Australians under the cosh, especially when Joe Root gave England a sight of victory by catching Alex Carey off his own bowling, with the Aussies still 50 runs away from the total.
Pat Cummins offered the Aussies a way back into the game as he fired two boundaries off Root’s bowling to put the pressure back on the hosts alongside batting partner Nathan Lyon.
England had chances to break the partnership but tricky catches were put down, without a lack of trying.
Stokes had one chance to catch Lyon, but it would have been an unbelievable take if he had managed to pull it off.
Cummins fought back for the Aussies
Nathan Lyon also put in a valuable effort for the visitors
Ben Stokes dropped an extremely tough chance to catch Lyon at a crucial stage
Lyon went on to score some important runs
The batters were able to play their way past England’s ever-changing field and guide the Aussies to a first-test win to lead the series.
England started the test by opting to bat, but captain Stokes shocked the world when he decided to declare just before the end of the first day on 393 for 8.
The visitors attempted to chase down the score but were all sent back to the pavilion seven runs short leading to a tense final two and half days.
But despite momentum swinging back and forth throughout the first test of the Ashes series it was … to claim victory and give themselves the advantage ahead of the second test at Lord’s which starts on June 28.
Zak Crawley made a costly error that gave Australia a boundary
The English bowlers cut a frustrated sight on the pitch
Australia now lead the series 1-0
