The exciting action of Ashes 2023 even continued on Day 4 at Edgbaston with England resuming their innings on 28-2. Swashbuckling batters Joe Root & Ollie Pope began their innings in a stunning way by amassing 43 runs in five overs of Day 4. Root made his intentions clear on the first ball of Day 4 by trying to hit a reverse scoop at Cummins’s delivery.
Fans were enjoying cricketing action on the pitch & the special guest in Edgbaston received a special welcome. We are talking about Pakistan’s pacer Shaheen Afridi who was present at the venue & was greeted with the tunes of ‘Dil-Dil Pakistan’. Afridi’s fan played the famous Pakistan song on a trumpet. The fans also chanted ‘Pakistan Zindabad!’ in a lovely gesture towards the seamer.
England’s famous fan group ‘Barmy Army’ shared the video on Twitter and wrote, “Dil Dil Pakistan! Nice to meet you @iShaheenAfridi, what a legend ❤️”
Ashes 2023, 1st Test: England managed to extend their lead to beyond 250
Coming back to the match, after a brisk start to the day for England, captain Pat Cummins brought his team back into the game by dismissing Pope (14) with a searing yorker. Harry Brook walked in at number four and kept the intensity high as the duo added 52 runs for the fourth wicket.
Joe Root (46 off 55) dismissed Nathan Lyon by stumping him in his career for the first time. Brook also got departed after scoring 46 off 52 reducing England to 150-5. After getting dismissed for just one run in the first innings, Stokes played a knock of 43 off 66 & helped England to pass the 200-run mark.
Later Jonny Bairstow(20) & Moeen Ali (19) helped three Lions to score a total of above 250 runs in the first innings. But it was Australian bowlers who held their nerves & wrapped their innings at 273 runs in 66.2 overs.
