Cricket-Lees gives England flying start in record chase

Crawley missed out on a half-century after deciding to leave a Bumrah delivery which jagged back to hit the top of his off-stump. England's highest successful run chase came in 2019 when they reached a 359-run target in an Ashes test against Australia on the back of Stokes's brilliant unbeaten century.

England rode Alex Lees's unbeaten fifty to cruise to 107-1 in pursuit of a record chase on day four of the rearranged fifth test against India at Edgbaston on Monday.

India were all out for 245 half an hour into the day's second session, setting England a victory target of 378. Lees, batting on 56, combined with Zak Crawley (46) to give the hosts a rollicking start before Jasprit Bumrah ended the century partnership just before the tea break.

Ollie Pope was yet to open his account at the other end. Lees and Crawley championed the attacking brand of cricket which is becoming the hallmark of the England test team since Brendon McCullum took over as the head coach and Ben Stokes assumed the captaincy.

They reached the 100-mark inside 20 overs with Lees racing to a 44-ball fifty. Crawley missed out on a half-century after deciding to leave a Bumrah delivery which jagged back to hit the top of his off-stump.

England's highest successful run chase came in 2019 when they reached a 359-run target in an Ashes test against Australia on the back of Stokes's brilliant unbeaten century. Earlier, Stokes (4-33) ran through India's lower order.

Rishabh Pant, whose incendiary 146 in the first innings had put India in control of the match, made 57, and opener Cheteshwar Pujara contributed 66. Pujara had been calmness personified in his dour knock but an uncharacteristic slash at a short and wide delivery from Stuart Broad had him caught at backward point.

Crawley spilled a difficult catch at slip but Pant, then on 45, could not capitalise on the reprieve. The left-hander perished attempting a reverse-sweep against left-arm spinner Jack Leach and Joe Root took a sharp catch at slip.

Shreyas Iyer made 19 before falling into a short-ball trap as England subjected India's lower order to a bouncer barrage on a pitch with variable bounce. Shardul Thakur suffered painful knocks on the helmet by successive Matthew Potts deliveries.

India are 2-1 up in the series which could not be completed last year following COVID-19 cases in the India camp ahead of the final match at Old Trafford.

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