Star pacer Akash Deep produced one of the best performances of his international career to help India thrash England by 336 runs to register their first-ever Test win at Edgbaston in Birmingham to level the five-match series 1-1 on Sunday.

After Akash Deep picked up 4/88 in the first innings, the 28-year-old continued his brilliant form in the second innings to register his maiden five-wicket haul in Test cricket, finishing with 6/99 to guide India to a historic Test win at Edgbaston in nine attempts and their first at the venue since 1967.

Having delivered a match-winning performance with figures of 10/187, Akash Deep became the second Indian bowler to claim a 10-wicket haul in a Test match on English soil after former India fast bowler Chetan Sharma.

The Bihar-born cricketer, who represents Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in the Indian Premier League (IPL), also recorded the best bowling figures for an Indian bowler in England, surpassing Chetan Sharma’s 10/188 in Birmingham in 1986.

After replacing Jasprit Bumrah in India’s playing XI, Akash Deep was sensational throughout the game as he bagged the huge wickets of Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Harry Brook and Chris Woakes in the first innings of the Birmingham Test.

Akash Deep once again troubled the England batters in the second innings as he removed Duckett and Joe Root in the final session on Day 4.

After a short rain delay in the first session on Day 5, Akash Deep shattered Ollie Pope’s stumps, before the talented pacer trapped Brook in front of the stumps.

The LSG fast bowler completed his maiden five-wicket haul in Test cricket after he got the better of England’s wicketkeeper-batter Jamie Smith.

He later finished with a 10-wicket haul by dismissing Brydon Carse to guide India to their biggest away Test win in terms of runs.

Earlier in the second Test, India rode on captain Shubman Gill’s 269, along with contributions from Ravindra Jadeja (89) and Yashasvi Jaiswal (87) to post a mammoth 587 in their first innings.

In reply, England were bowled out for 407 in their first innings. Bowling spearhead Mohammed Siraj was the wrecker-in-chief for India with 6/70, while Akash Deep was the other standout bowler with 4/88.

Later in the second innings, skipper Gill continued his magnificent form as he slammed 169, along with fifties from Ravindra Jadeja (69 not out), vice-captain Rishabh Pant (65) and KL Rahul (55) as India declared at 427/6 to set up a record target of 608.

Defending 608 in the fourth innings, India rode on Akash Deep’s 6/99 to skittle out the hosts for 271 to register a historic Test win.

With the series levelled 1-1, India and England will resume their rivalry in the third Test of the newly-rechristened Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy at the iconic Lord’s in London starting on July 10.

Image Courtesy: BCCI