Final day of first Ashes set to resume at Edgabaston after rain delay with game on a knife-edge

<p>The final day of the first Ashes Test is set to resume at Edgbaston after a morning rain delay with both teams confident of victory.</p>

<p>Both sides have clear routes to victory with 67 overs possible, England needing another seven wickets and Australia 174 runs.</p>

<p>The fifth day in Birmingham was confirmed as a 25,000 sell-out shortly after Stuart Broad produced an exhilarating double strike on the fourth evening, removing key men Marnus Labuschagne and Steve Smith in an inspired spell.</p>

<p>The tourists will resume on 107 for three, with first-innings centurion Usman Khawaja in position on 34 not out and nightwatch Scott Boland holding up the other end.</p>

<p>England set their opponents a target of 281 to win, with Ollie Robinson ending a dangerous opening partnership at 61 before Broad got the ground rocking late on by taking out Labuschagne and Smith, the top two players in the ICC rankings.</p>

<p>Moeen Ali will be hoping he can play a role in knocking over Australia, with a painful open blister on his index finger causing him problems.</p>

<p>He reversed his international retirement to answer England's call when Jack Leach was injured, but two years away from red-ball cricket have already taken their toll on the 36-year-old who has struggled to grip the ball properly since the injury emerged.</p>

<p>The article <a href="https://www.planetsport.com/cricket/news/final-day-first-ashes-set-resume-edgabaston-after-rain-delay-game-knife-edge">Final day of first Ashes set to resume at Edgabaston after rain delay with game on a knife-edge </a> appeared first on Planetsport.com.</p>