Pat Cummins. (Photo Source: SonyLiv)
Day 5 of the first Test of the Ashes 2023 was quite an eventful one for both England and Australia. Scott Boland and Usman Khawaja were at the crease at the start of the day’s play. England were quick to make their mark on the game, as Boland was sent packing quite early in the day.
However, it was the dismissal of veteran batter Usman Khawaja that lifted the hopes for England, and it was the moment that the play of the day was executed. The play of the day was executed on the last ball of the 72nd over.
Skipper Ben Stokes was bowling to Khawaja, and it was a slower delivery that sent the 36-year-old packing. Pitching outside, it was a leg cutter that deceived Khawaja. As he went to play to deflect the ball onto the covers, the ball rattled onto the stumps, and he was dismissed after scoring 65 runs in 197 deliveries.
What a match, A famous victory for Australia
Well played Pat Cummins🏏
Who says Test Cricket is boring?#Ashes23 #ENGvsAUS pic.twitter.com/kjdeLrBFMV
— Mujahid (@mujahid_bhattii) June 20, 2023
Australia defeat England in first Ashes Test by two wickets
Many experts opined before the start of the day’s play that it was England’s game to lose. Australia were 107/3 when Usman Khawaja and Boland took strike. After the tailender’s dismissal, it was Khawaja who was brilliant with the bat and patiently built his innings.
Apart from Khawaja, the rest of the Australian batters made decent contributions to the score as well. Travis Head scored 16 runs, with Cameron Green scoring 28 runs . Furthermore, wicketkeeper Alex Carey accumulated 20 runs to his name as well.
However, it was the knock of skipper, Pat Cummins, that drove Australia home and won them the first Test of the Ashes 2023. Cummins’ marvellous partnership with spinner Nathan Lyon made for a story to be remembered for the ages. Coming in to bat with almost no hope, the pacer was sensational with the bat as he scored an unbeaten 44 runs off 73 balls.
Stuart Broad was the highest wicket-taker for England in the second innings. The veteran pacer took three wickets and left a huge impact on the game during the run chase. Furthermore, Ollie Robinson took two wickets, with Moeen Ali, Joe Root, and Ben Stokes taking one wicket each.