BIRMINGHAM, UK: England were off to a flying start in pursuit of 378 for a series-levelling victory against India in the fifth Test at Edgbaston on Monday.
The home team were 107/1 at tea with Alex Lees and Ollie Pope in the middle. Jasprit Bumrah had bowled Zak Crawley after the opening pair of Lees and Crawley put on 107.
INDIA FOLD FOR 245Earlier, India were dismissed for 245 in their second innings shortly after lunch on the fourth day.
There have been only two successful fourth-innings chases above 200 in a Test at Edgbaston, with South Africa making 283-5 in 2008 and England 211-3 against New Zealand in 1999.
England, however, reached seemingly stiff targets of 277, 299 and 296 during a recent 3-0 whitewash of Test world champions New Zealand.
And they now have more than 150 overs in which to chase down this latest target and so end this five-match series with India level at 2-2.
Recalled opener Cheteshwar Pujara top-scored for India with 66, while Rishabh Pant followed his first-innings 146 with 57.
But India lost their last six wickets for 55 runs, with England captain Ben Stokes taking 4-33 in 11.5 overs.
This decider should have been played in Manchester last September only to be postponed just hours before the start because of coronavirus concerns within the India camp.
