[WATCH] ENG vs IND 2025: Akash Deep’s nip-backer bamboozles Harry Brook at Edgbaston

India found a much-awaited breakthrough at Edgbaston when pacer Akash Deep delivered a peach to dismiss Harry Brook, breaking a huge 303-run sixth-wicket partnership with Jamie Smith that had tilted the Test match in England’s way.

England were struggling at 84 for 5 early on Day 3, still trailing India’s massive first-innings score by over 500 runs. Mohammed Siraj had begun with a double-strike, removing Joe Root and Ben Stokes off successive balls. But following the early dismissals, Smith and Brook acted as the crisis managers.

Smith walked in facing a hat-trick ball and went to hammer a century off just 80 balls, the joint-third fastest by an Englishman in Test cricket. Brook, meanwhile, notched up his ninth Test century, and his first against India. Together, the duo added 303 runs off 364 deliveries, the highest-ever sixth-wicket partnership for England against India, and the third-highest for the sixth wicket or lower against the Men in Blue.

However, skipper Shubman Gill handed the second new ball to Deep, who finally provided the much-needed breakthrough. In the 83rd over, the pacer bowled a length delivery that pitched outside off and came back in. Brook, who had been cramping up a few overs earlier, looked to push the ball, but it went past his inside edge and struck into the off stump. 

Watch the video below:

Brook departed for a solid 158 off 234 balls, laced with 17 boundaries and a six, a knock he dedicated to his late grandmother, Pauline. The dismissal was a major relief for India, who had a wicketless middle session as England went to 355 for 5 at Tea. However, the visitors will be looking to dismiss Smith, who is batting on 173 along with all-rounder Chris Woakes. At the time of writing, England’s score read 395/6, trailing by 192 runs.

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