India wins spinners’ test in two days
CRICKET
AHMEDABAD: India wrapped up an extraordinary 10wicket victory against England inside two days as both sides' spinners caused mayhem on a treacherous wicket in the daynight third test in Ahmedabad yesterday.
Seventeen wickets fell in yesterday’s first two sessions, and 30 overall in two days, in the shortest completed test match since 1935.
Momentum swung wildly as India, which moved 21 up in the fourtest series, suffered a firstinnings collapse to open the door for an England fightback, before the host ripped through the tourists' batting for a second time.
India eventually strolled to victory, securing the 49 runs it needed in its second innings without losing a wicket, as calm descended following the chaos of the first two sessions.
England's second successive defeat dashed its hopes of reaching the final of the inaugural World Test Championship (WTC) on home soil later this year.
For India, a draw in the final test will be enough to secure its place in the WTC final against New Zealand. If it loses the match, also in Ahmedabad from March 4, Australia will play New Zealand in the June 1822 contest.
England had been on the back foot since being skittled for 112 in its first innings at the world's largest cricket stadium.
Yet Joe Root and Jack Leach, who shared nine wickets between them, dragged the tourists back into the contest by bowling out India for 145.
England, however, suffered a second batting collapse and folded for 81, its lowest total against India, to allow the host reclaim control of the lowscoring contest.
India openers Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill chased down the paltry 49run victory target in 7.4 overs with all 10 wickets intact.
Axar Patel finished with a match haul of 11 wickets for 70, while offspinner Ravichandran Ashwin claimed four for 48 in the second innings, as he passed 400 test wickets.
Leftarm spinner Patel was adjudged manofthematch in a contest in which seamers from both sides took a back seat as spinners wreaked havoc with the pink ball.
``It's just a bizarre game,'' said amused home captain Virat Kohli, denying there was anything wrong with the pitch.
``I don't think I have ever been a part of such a test match where things have happened so quickly.
``It was a very good pitch to bat on, especially in the first innings.''
England captain Root had felt the same about the surface when he elected to bat after winning the toss on Wednesday.
At 74 for two, England looked on course for a decent firstinnings total before it collapsed against spin, despite Zak Crawley's strokefilled 53.
``We just didn't capitalise on it,'' Root, who claimed a careerbest five for eight with the ball, said after the defeat.
``When you get into that sort of position, you really want to make it count. Had we got 250 on that wicket, that could have been a really good score.'' — Reuters