England completed a comprehensive seven-wicket victory over India in the rescheduled fifth Test at Edgbaston on Tuesday (July 5).
Heading into the final day, the hosts needed 119 more runs while chasing the target of 378 and they pulled it off without breaking a sweat in the first session itself.
Joe Root (76*) and Jonny Bairstow (72*) were unbeaten in the middle for England at the conclusion of fourth day's play, having already added 150 runs for the fourth wicket. The pair continued their domination over the Indian bowlers on Day 5, sharing an unbroken 269-run stand to take the home team over the line.
Both of them slammed centuries on the final day. While Root returned with a match-winning knock of 142 not out off 173 balls, Bairstow stayed unbeaten on 114 off 145 balls – his second hundred of the game.
Thanks to their centuries, England completed their highest successful run chase in Tests and that too in just 76.4 overs, eclipsing the chase of 359 against Australia at Headingley in 2019.
With this victory, England also drew the five-match Test series 2-2. Notably, the rescheduled Test was part of India's 2021 series in England, which the tourists led by 2-1, but the fifth match had to be postponed at the eleventh hour following a Covid-19 outbreak in the visiting camp.
Cricket experts on Twitter lauded the duo of Root and Bairstow for their sparkling tons, which enabled England to level the series.
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