Fast bowler Ishant Sharma took his 8th five-wicket haul as India bowled out England for 180 in their second innings on day three to set themselves a 194-run target to win the first Test in Birmingham on Friday. While Ishant took five wickets, off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin scalped three as England added 171 runs to their overnight score of nine for one.
Sam Curran, with his 63-run knock, led a stunning rearguard fight to help the hosts extend their lead to 193 after being down 87 for seven at one stage. Tea was taken immediately after Curran was dismissed by Umesh Yadav.
If India manage to overhaul the target, it will be their only seventh Test win on the England soil. It would also be India's highest successful run chase in England.
Interestingly, the Indian bowlers have now taken all 20 wickets in their last seven away Tests.
England were wobbling on 87/7 at Edgbaston after Jos Buttler was dismissed on the second ball after lunch, for Ishant's third wicket of that over.
That brought the 20-year-old Curran to the crease, and the left-hander entertained the crowd with a 65-ball 63.
