BIRMINGHAM:  England won their 1,000th cricket Test in defeating India by 31 runs in a thrilling climax midway through the fourth day’s play at Edgbaston, Birmingham.

Ben Stokes, with four for 40, delivered the decisive blows after Indian captain Virat Kohli had threatened to lead his team home after adding a second-innings half-century to his outstanding earlier century.

In his first over, after replacing Jimmy Anderson, Stokes had the Indian captain lbw playing across his pad for 51, and then doubled up with the wicket of Mohammad Shami, fencing a catch behind.

Hardik Pandya emerged instead as the only threat to England, but he was last out in a total of 162 when he edged Stokes to Alastair Cook at slip.

India had resumed on 110 for five, with a target of 194 to win but Anderson gave England a perfect start with the immediate wicket of Dinesh Karthik.

Stokes then needed three balls to dismiss Kohli and a further three to shift Shami and leave India needing a further 53 from their last two wickets.

England captain Joe Root then turned to leg-spinner Adil Rashid who trapped Ishant Sharma lbw before Stokes, who must report to Bristol Crown Court on Monday morning to answer a charge of affray and will therefore miss the second Test at Lord’s, signed off with the last wicket.

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