Credit: ICC
On July 2, England’s Stuart Broad broke into record books after splurging 35 runs against India on the second day of the Test match, played in Birmingham. Bowling first after winning the toss, England scalped India’s nine wickets at a score of 375 and the hosts were looking to fold the visitors’ first innings as tailenders Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj were standing at the crease. Broad, who came to bowl his 18th over, was stunned by Bumrah, who looked fierce against the speedster and took the veteran to the cleaners. On the first delivery, Bumrah played the stroke towards the fine leg and Zak Crawley couldn’t grab the delivery which resulted in crossing the boundary ropes. The next delivery, Broad bowled a wide which went for a four.
The next delivery, Bumrah became more aggressive as he clobbered a maximum with his shot towards the back side. The delivery was declared no-ball and Broad was now under pressure as he gave away 16 runs in just one ball. Bumrah showed a relentless approach against England quick on the next four deliveries as he racked up three consecutive fours followed by a maximum. Broad concluded his over after conceding 35 runs. With these numbers, the England legend became the bowler to bowl the costliest over in the history of red-ball cricket. Bumrah, who accumulated 29 runs from his bat, also registered the batting feat of notching up the most runs in a Test-match over. Riding on the tailender’s 31 off 16, India posted 416 runs in the first innings.
England hunted down 378 runs and registered their most-successful chase in Tests
Following the total of 416 in the first innings, England got bundled out on 284. However, Ben Stokes and his bowlers didn’t lose faith and folded India on 245 in the second innings. Chasing a gigantic target of 378, the English batters displayed courage and decimated India’s bowling attack.
Veterans Joe Root (unbeaten 142 off 173) and Jonny Bairstow (unbeaten 114 off 145) looked ruthless against the visitors and produced centuries from their bats to help England complete the chase on the final day of the match, with seven wickets in hand. This is England’s most-successful chase in the longest format of the sport. Bairstow became the Player of the Match (POTM) for his stunning batting contribution (106 and unbeaten 114).
