3. England vs India at Birmingham (1-4 August) – England won by 31 runs

It was the opening Test of the five-match Test series between England and India at Birmingham. After winning the toss, the hosts scored 287 runs in their first innings. While the Indian off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin had a bowling figure of 26-7-62-4, the English skipper Joe Root (80 runs) and the wicketkeeper-batsman Jonny Bairstow (70 runs) scored half-centuries in that innings.

In reply, the Indian skipper Virat Kohli’s impressive 149 off 225 balls (22 fours and only six) helped the team to score 274 runs before getting all-out. None of the other batsmen reached the 30-run mark in that innings while the left-arm pacer Sam Curran bagged four wickets (4/74) in that innings.

Starting that innings with 13 runs lead, England was struggling at one stage on 87/7. Sam Curran’s brilliant 63 runs off 65 balls (9 fours and 2 sixes) helped England to manage 180 runs before getting all-out and they put a fighting 194 runs target for the visitors. Indian pacer Ishant Sharma took five wickets in that innings as he had a bowling figure of 13-0-51-5.

Chasing down the target, Ben Stokes (4/40) led England to the incredible victory as the visitors were all-out on just 162 runs. Indian skipper Virat Kohli (51 runs) fought very hard but couldn’t find another reliable partner.

While England won that game by 31 runs, English cricketer Sam Curran won the Player of the Match award for his brilliant all-round performances.