Resurgent India complete formality
Down 20 in series, visitors redeem themselves with 203run win vs England
groin injury, got last man James Anderson to glove a looping catch to Ajinkya Rahane at slip with a carrom ball from around the wicket. It was the only England wicket to fall to spin as 19 had been shared by the pacers.
India had clinched one of their great overseas victories by 203 runs, marking a remarkable comeback after going 2-0 down in the five-match series to be under immense pressure.
Adil Rashid and Anderson added six to the overnight total before the innings ended for 317. It was India’s second win at Trent Bridge in seven matches, the team having won under Rahul Dravid in 2007 when they last claimed a series in this country.
It was also India’s seventh win in England in almost nine decades of tours. It also halted their five-game losing streak since their victory at Lord’s in 2014.
Kohli led from the front to be named Man-of-the-match for his 97 and 103 and century partnerships with Rahane and Cheteshwar Pujara. It was victory No 22 for Kohli as Test captain, taking him past Sourav Ganguly’s mark of 21 to second in the India list. Only Dhoni (27) is ahead.
Jasprit Bumrah’s five-wicket haul, including four with the second new ball on the fourth evening, had left the visitors just to hammer in the final nail. Rashid was 33 not out, having played aggressively overnight.
Few spectators turned up only after cricket officials belatedly threw open the gates, announcing on social media that money would be refunded to the 2000-odd fans who had bought tickets.
India’s revival comes after losing the first Test at Edgbaston by 31 runs and at Lord’s by an innings and 159 runs. The victory builds anticipation over whether India can go on to win the fivematch series, with the next two games to be played at Ageas Bowl, Southampton, starting on August 30, and the Oval.
Only one team has come back from 0-2 down to win a Test series – Don Bradman’s Australia against England at home in 1936-37. India scored 329 in their first innings and skittled out England for 161 for a 168-run lead. Kohli’s second-innings century guided India to 352/7 and left England to try and stave off defeat with over two days left.