Kohli stands firm for India

Birmingham – India captain Virat Kohli once more kept England at bay after Sam Curran’s maiden Test fifty gave the hosts’ hope of an improbable win in the series opener at Edgbaston yesterday.

India were 110/5 in their second innings at stumps on the third day, still needing a further 84 runs to reach a victory target of 194 that would put them 1-0 up in a five-match series.

Kohli, above, whose superb first-innings 149 was the star batsman’s maiden Test century in England, was 43 not out and Dinesh Karthik unbeaten on 18.

England’s 1,000th Test had threatened to end in an embarrassing defeat with more than two days remaining as they collapsed to 87/7 in their second innings.

But Curran, in just his second match at this level, struck 63 to take England to 180 all out.

That left India with a potentially awkward chase.

It was also 20 runs more than their their highest fourth-innings Test-winning total in England of 174/6 at The Oval in 1971 during their first victory in a Test on English soil.

The 20-year-old No 8 Curran’s impressive batting effort came just a day after he had taken Testbest figures of four for 74.

“I had goosebumps listening to the Barmy Army chants and that first hour tomorrow (Saturday) is going to be crucial,” Curran told said. “If we can bowl well we will hopefully win.”

Off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin ran through England’s top order before quick Ishant Sharma took three wickets in an over.

England desperately required early wickets and Stuart Broad obliged by removing openers Murali Vijay and Shikhar Dhawan. –