India finally breaks through on tour after beating England in a one-day cricket international

BIRMINGHAM, England (AP) — India finally ended a long winless run on tour with a six-wicket victory over England on Tuesday in a one-day international at Edgbaston.

England rallied from 107-6 to be 258 all out but couldn't defend the total. India paced the run chase superbly and reached 262-4 with 28 balls remaining.

The victory revives what has been a dismal tour for India. The Twenty20 world champion was blanked in that format by Ireland in Belfast 2-0 and by England 4-0, surrendering its No. 1 T20 ranking.

But reinforcements including captain Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Jaspit Bumrah and Lokesh Rahul — many of whom hadn't played for weeks — proved too good for England at the start of a three-match ODI series.

The only blemish for India was Gill retiring hurt on 80 due to cramps. Gill was well poised for his third century in his last five internationals for India until he hobbled off. He said he should be available for the second ODI on Thursday in Cardiff.

“We were put under pressure but how we bounced back was important,” Gill said. “The conditions were similar to South Africa (which hosts the 50-over World Cup next year) — not easy for the batsmen with the new ball, it was kicking up. The wicket then settled nicely.”

The target was hardly taxing but India's risk-free run chase had to overcome a couple of wobbles.

Openers Sharma and Kohli were dismissed cheaply inside the first nine overs.

Gill restored confidence with a half-century from 51 balls, including 30 from boundaries. When he retired hurt, India had another wobble of three wickets in 15 deliveries.

Shreyas Iyer was run out on 35 by Harry Brook and Rahul played on to Josh Tongue.

But allrounders Washington Sundar and Axar Patel recovered the momentum with constant singles that wore down England hopes.

Sundar survived on 28 when the ball bounced off his pad and shoe and hit the stumps but didn't knock off a bail. He and the more aggressive Patel strolled to victory with an unbeaten partnership of 102 from a leisurely 105 balls.

Patel was 57 not out for his fourth ODI half-century, and Sundar hit a career-best 52 with a winning six down the ground.

Patel was named the player of the match for also taking England's last four wickets. He's the sixth Indian man to get a half-century and a 4-for in an ODI and first since 2022 by Hardik Pandya against England in Manchester.

Patel broke the partnership that saved England's innings.

At 106-7, Liam Dawson joined Joe Root and they combined for 121 to lead England past 200.

Dawson earned his first career ODI half-century in his 10th match. Root followed with his 66th ODI 50.

But spinner Patel got Dawson caught on the boundary for 68.

Patel was summoned again when seamer Gurnoor Brar couldn't bowl the 48th over, apparently injured in his run up. Patel took the last two wickets and stranded Root on a run-a-ball 76. And England left 13 balls unused.

Ben Duckett's 43 gave England a flying start after choosing to bat but his wicket alongside fellow opener Jacob Bethell and Brook in the span of six balls ultimately cost the host.

AP cricket: https://apnews.com/hub/cricket

India's Axar Patel bowls during the first ODI cricket match between England and India in Birmingham, England, Tuesday, July 14, 2026. (Gary Oakley/PA via AP)

India's Shubman Gill bats during the first ODI cricket match between England and India in Birmingham, England, Tuesday, July 14, 2026. (Gary Oakley/PA via AP)

India's Washington Sundar hits a six during the first ODI cricket match between England and India in Birmingham, England, Tuesday, July 14, 2026. (Gary Oakley/PA via AP)

India's Axar Patel celebrates his fifty during the first ODI cricket match between England and India in Birmingham, England, Tuesday, July 14, 2026. (Gary Oakley/PA via AP)

MILAN (AP) — Ash spewing from Sicily's Mount Etna has forced the closure of the Italian island’s largest airport for the fifth consecutive day, stranding hundreds of summer holiday travelers during the busiest travel week of the year.

Catania’s airport will remain closed until early Saturday, which falls on the Ferragosto holiday that marks the height of the Italian summer holiday season when millions flock to the sea and mountains, deserting Italian cities.

While Etna’s activity often interrupts flights at the airport, located 30 kilometers (20 miles) south of the volcano, this is the longest emergency since 2002.

“Volcanic ash can be a great risk for aircraft,” said Boris Behncke, a researcher at the National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology’s Etna Observatory. “It can be sucked into the motors, and force them to stall. This is why everyone is so very cautious with aircraft when there is a volcanic ash emission.”

Etna is the largest active volcano in Europe. The latest activity has been unusual for its persistence and sustained ash emissions. Northerly winds have spread light amounts of ash to Malta and northern Africa.

“There have been many shorter interruptions — and stronger eruptions — over the past few decades, but this event is different because the ash emission from Etna’s summit has been much more persistent,” Behncke said.

The closure has forced planes to be rerouted to other airports on the island, which has pushed up taxi fares and car rental prices, according to the Corriere della Sera daily. The Codacons consumer association has announced it will file a complaint with Italy’s competition authority following complaints about price gouging.

The SAC airport operator said 36% of nearly 2,000 flights scheduled to arrive in Catania from Aug. 6-12 had been canceled, while more than 600 were diverted to Palermo, Trapani and Comiso in Sicily and Lamezia Terme in Calabria. Flights were able to depart Catania over the weekend, but the airport was officially closed to both incoming and outgoing flights Monday. Comiso also was briefly closed.

The Italian train company Trenitalia has added six trains along the Palermo-Messina-Catania route to help ease the travel pressure.

Italy's federation of travel agencies and tour operators has called for a task force to coordinate responses to disruptions caused by Mount Etna and said it would ask for a review of how airlines handled the cancellations and passenger assistance.

“Operators are working around the clock to provide assistance, cancellations and alternative travel arrangements, but they cannot bear the burden of structural shortcomings and the management responsibilities of others," FIAVET President Gian Mario Pilieri said in a statement.

Eruptive activity continues on Mount Etna, where lava flows continue to descend on the slopes of the volcano, as seen from Mareneve near Catania, Italy, Thursday, Aug. 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Salvatore Allegra)

Eruptive activity continues on Mount Etna, where lava flows continue to descend on the slopes of the volcano, as seen from Serracozzo near Catania, Italy, early Tuesday, Aug. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Simone Genovese)

Eruptive activity continues on Mount Etna, where lava flows continue to descend on the slopes of the volcano, as seen from Serracozzo near Catania, Italy, early Tuesday, Aug. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Simone Genovese)