BIRMINGHAM: Australia beat England by two wickets to win a thrilling first Ashes Test at Edgbaston on Tuesday.

Australia were struggling at 227-8, still 54 runs shy of a victory target of 281, when skipper Pat Cummins was joined in the middle by tailender Nathan Lyon.

Australia chasing 281 to win first Ashes Test

But the pair’s unbroken stand of 55 saw Australia, who finished on 282-8, home with Cummins hitting the winning boundary to finish on 44 not out.

Lyon was unbeaten on 16, with Australia now 1-0 up in this five-match series as they bid for a first Ashes campaign triumph on English soil in 22 years.