Ashes 2023: Cummins, Lyon help Australia win first Test in a nail-biting finale

A superb rearguard innings of 44 not out by skipper Pat Cummins and his crucial 55run partnership for the ninth wicket with Nathan Lyon 16 not out helped Australia scamper to a twowicket victory over England in the nailbiting first Ashes Test of the 2023 series at the Edgbaston here on TuesdayChasing a fourth innings target of 218 to win the match Australia who ended Day Four at 1073 were in trouble after losing Alex Carey for 20 with the score 2278The first game of the new ICC World Test Championship cycle ended in dramatic fashion with Cummins playing a captains knock to steer his side to a famous victory in the Birmingham twilightDespite losing the first session of the day because of rain England who declared their first innings at 3938 and bowled out for 272 in their second were sniffing their chances as they only needed two wickets with Australia needing 54 runsAlso Read Ashes 2023 Gritty Khawajas marathon batting outweighs Englands BazballHowever Cummins and Lyon shared an unfinished 55run partnership for the ninth wicket as they gave Australia the winning start in their attempt to wrest back the Urn in England after many yearsEngland looked favourites when Cummins came to the crease but the skipper added 18 runs alongside Alex Carey and then played the decisive part in the matchwinning stand with Nathan Lyon as the opening match of the Ashes went down to the wireIt was Cummins who hit the winning runs ending on 44 not out and embraced by the unbeaten Lyon 16 not outRain washed out the whole first session to compress the days play with Australia resuming on 1073 and all results still possible when play did start on a cloudy afternoonNeeding 174 to win Usman Khawaja and Scott Boland made England sweat for the early breakthrough before Stuart Broad lured the edge from the nightwatchman Bolands 20 was his highest Test score to dateAustralia bided their time with Travis Head seeing off a spell of shortpitched bowlingBut Moeen Ali who struggled throughout the day with a finger injury produced a superb delivery to tie Head up in knots with Joe Root taking a sharp catch at first slipThe tourists were wellplaced five wickets down at tea But England did get a glimmer of hope when Cameron Greens 66ball vigil came to an end when he chopped an Ollie Robinson ball onto his stumps to depart for 28And Khawajas defiant 197ball 65 came to an end in the same fashion when he was undone by a slower ball from England captain StokesEngland delayed taking the new ball and the decision paid off in style when parttime spinner Root clung on to a sharp caught and bowled chance his third such tricky opportunity to remove Alex Carey for 20 with Australia still requiring 54 runs to winTension was high as England tried everything to get the remaining wickets they needed But Cummins and Lyon held their nerve to wrap up a famous victoryThe win gives Australia a 10 lead in the series with four Tests to play The second Test will start at Lords next WednesdayAnd the result is the first in the new cycle of the World Test Championship with defending champions Australia getting points on the board at the first time of askingBrief scoresEngland 3938d amp 273 lost to Australia 286 amp 2828 in 923 overs Usman Khawaja 65 David Warner 36 Pat Cummins 44 not out Stuart Broad 364 Ollie Robinson 243 by two wicketsThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever