Ashwin, Bumrah snare three each as brave India beat Bazballing England by 106 runsVIZAG: Monday’s series-levelling win comes as a huge boost for India following the manner in which Rohit Sharma’s men hung on despite England coming hard at them on the penultimate day. The pitch at the ACA-VDCA Stadium held no terrors for the batters despite a hostile spell of reverse swing by Jasprit Bumrah on the second day. It was, instead, England’s tendency to attack at all times that failed to help them get the 332 more runs they needed to win on Day Four.
England scored at 4.21 an over but that they still fell short by 106 runs chasing a target of 399. However, it was an indication of the positive mindset which England have said they will stick with, even if it does not yield the desired results. Barring Zak Crawley, none of the other batters showed an inclination to buckle down to the task of playing a long innings, like Jaiswal did.
Crawley (73; 132b, 8x4, 1x6) looked totally at ease when he resumed in the company of Rehan Ahmed, with the hosts needing nine wickets to draw level after the 28-run loss in Hyderabad. The overnight pair profited from the Indian bowlers’ generosity and the 45-run stand for the second wicket looked good for more when Axar Patel trapped Rehan in front, but not before the nightwatchman had frustrated the hosts for 32 minutes.
Crawley had dwelt on the England mindset and their approach to tackling the Indian spinners prior to the second Test and he clearly stood out, making 76 in England’s first-innings total of 253 and 73 in their second innings. It took a superb reflex catch from skipper Rohit Sharma at slip to get rid of Ollie Pope as R Ashwin had his man for the fifth time in Tests.
The off spinner will have to wait for his milestone of 500 wickets but his tally of 499 included Ben Duckett on the third day and Joe Root, who gave the charge and ballooned a catch to point while trying to hit on the on-side.
Though India were getting wickets at regular intervals, England controlled passages of play and it was Crawley’s wicket that revived hopes of an early England debacle. The tall opener was trapped in front by Kuldeep Yadav, who came on after Axar’s marathon morning spell of 13-1-65-1. But with umpire Marais Erasmus unmoved, India reviewed and won the appeal.
England needed 205 more to win at that stage but Jonny Bairstow lost the review after being given out to Bumrah by Chris Gaffaney and England went to lunch at 194/6. If India harboured hopes of a quick cave-in, they had not contended with Ben Foakes.
Foakes (36; 69b, 4x4, 1x6) made the most of India’s lethargy in the field on resumption but Shreyas Iyer’s brilliance in the field perked up the hosts. Foakes set off for a single after playing Ashwin to mid-wicket and Iyer, who took a fine catch to get rid of Crawley in the first innings, responded with alacrity. His direct hit at the ’keeper’s end found Ben Stokes short.
The 55-run stand between Foakes and Hartley defied the hosts further and it was left to Bumrah (3/46) to seal the win by cleaning up Hartley.
2nd Test: India beat England to level series