All-rounder Axar Patel showcased his best performance with figures of 4-62, restricting England to 258 all out in 47.5 overs during the first ODI against India at Edgbaston Stadium. Despite a middle-order collapse, England managed a competitive total, thanks to a crucial 121-run partnership between Joe Root and Liam Dawson.
Ben Duckett and Jacob Bethell provided a solid start for England, scoring 43 and 14 runs respectively. Jasprit Bumrah, in his first ODI appearance in nearly three years, posed a challenge but England coped well, putting up 61 runs for the opening wicket.
Gurnoor Brar, after a tough start, turned the game around by dismissing both openers in quick succession. Bumrah and Prasidh Krishna further dented England’s batting lineup, with Jos Buttler and Sam Curran falling cheaply, leaving the team struggling at 80/5.
In a bid to revive the innings, Will Jacks contributed 20 runs off 19 balls, but Shivam Dube’s brilliant catch behind the stumps dismissed him. Root and Dawson then led a remarkable recovery with a partnership of 121 runs for the seventh wicket, stabilizing England’s innings and setting a defendable target for their bowlers.
Axar Patel’s crucial breakthrough in the 44th over, dismissing Dawson for 68, ended the partnership with Root, who remained unbeaten on 76. Despite a late flourish by Jofra Archer, England was bowled out for 258 as Root’s innings came to an end.
