Axar Patel's career-best 4-62 restricts England to 258 in 1st ODI at Edgbaston
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
All-rounder Axar Patel claimed a career-best 4 for 62 as India bowled England out for 258 in 47.5 overs in the first ODI at Edgbaston Stadium, Birmingham on Tuesday, 14 July. Joe Root carried his bat for an unbeaten 76 off 76 balls, but ran out of partners as England's lower order could not sustain the recovery.
Solid Start Before the Collapse
Ben Duckett scored 43 off 45 balls and Jacob Bethell contributed 14 off 31 as the pair put on 61 runs for the opening wicket, handling Jasprit Bumrah's opening spell with relative comfort. Notably, this was Bumrah's first ODI appearance in 968 days, making his return a closely watched moment.
The tide turned in the 13th over when Gurnoor Brar, after a difficult opening spell, switched ends and dismissed both openers in the same over. The double blow triggered a rapid middle-order collapse that left England reeling.
Middle-Order Collapse Deepens England's Trouble
Bumrah struck immediately on his return to the attack, taking a sharp catch at first slip to send Harry Brook back for just 1 run. Prasidh Krishna then tore through the middle order, claiming two wickets in one over. England captain Jos Buttler, playing his landmark 200th ODI, fell cheaply in a disappointing milestone appearance. Sam Curran followed with a loose shot, leaving England at a precarious 80 for 5.
Will Jacks attempted to shift momentum with 20 off 19 balls, but Shivam Dube claimed his second ODI wicket when KL Rahul pouched a stunning one-handed catch behind the stumps.
Root-Dawson Partnership Rescues England
With England in serious trouble, Joe Root and Liam Dawson forged a crucial 121-run seventh-wicket partnership to revive the innings. Dawson reached his first ODI half-century, finishing with a career-best 68 off 83 balls, while Root registered his fourth consecutive ODI score of over 50. Their stand gave England's bowlers a total worth defending.
Axar Breaks the Stand, Root Stays Unbeaten
Axar Patel broke the partnership in the 44th over, dismissing Dawson to record his career-best ODI figures. Root, however, survived a reprieve when Shivam Dube dropped a straightforward return catch off his own bowling, allowing the England batter to push the total past 250.
Jofra Archer chipped in with a brisk 12 off 6 balls, but Adil Rashid and ODI debutant Josh Tongue both fell in the 48th over, ending England's innings at 258 all out in 47.5 overs. Root was left stranded on 76 not out as India completed the bowling effort.
Brief scores: England 258 all out in 47.5 overs (Joe Root 76*, Liam Dawson 68; Axar Patel 4-62, Prasidh Krishna 2-50) vs India.